News
Social Worker Suspended for Two Years
2 July 2010
A registered social worker formerly employed by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council has been suspended for two years after admitting failings in the way he carried out child protection work.
Marius Sacalos, who was part of the local authority’s Looked After Children team, admitted a total of 17 charges and a Care Council Conduct Committee imposed a Suspension Order after finding him guilty of misconduct. Prior to the hearing, Mr Sacalos had been subject to an Interim Suspension Order.
The charges against Mr Sacalos included failing to arrange visits with service users; not informing his employer and other agencies about the outcomes of meetings; failing to maintain clear and accurate records and prepare for meetings, and not preparing adequately before giving evidence in court.
The Conduct Committee decided that Mr Sacalos had breached sections 2, 5 and 6 of the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers. These sections relate to the requirements to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of service users and carers; to uphold public trust and confidence in social care services; and to be accountable for the quality of work and take responsibility for maintaining and improving knowledge and skills.
The Suspension Order means that Mr Sacalos will not be able to practice as a registered social worker in the UK for the next two years.
The Conduct Committee stated; "The Committee takes the view that because the registrant’s failings cover the whole range of his social work practice and occurred over an 18-month period, and because the potential serious harm to the children that he was responsible for was significant and real, we consider that the misconduct, taken as a whole, must be considered as serious."
In imposing the Suspension Order, the Committee added: "The Committee believes that you are unsuitable for registration at present but we feel you may recover suitability within a certain timescale. Suspension will have the same effect as a removal order. This means while you are suspended, you will not be able to describe yourself or work as a registered social worker."
"Suspension is one of the sanctions available to the Care Council as the social care workforce regulator in Wales. Through its work, the Care Council aims to improve and raise public confidence in the social care services used by around 150,000 people at any one time in Wales.
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If you have any queries, please contact Malcolm Williams on 029 2078 0634 (malcolm.williams@ccwales.org.uk) or Charmine Smikle on 029 2078 0626 (charmine.smikle@ccwales.org.uk)