Cyngor Gofal Cymru / Care Council for Wales

The Conduct Hearing is the final stage in the conduct process. At a hearing a Conduct Committee will decide whether or not, on the facts proved, the registrant has committed misconduct and if so, what sanction should be imposed. Where a Health Committee is held, it will also consider medical evidence to establish if the alleged misconduct was due to the mental or physical health of the registrant. Both Committees can impose the following sanctions.

Sanctions explained briefly:

• Removal Order- the registrant is removed from the Register and is therefore unable to call him/herself a social worker (and therefore work as a social worker) or work as a social care worker.
• Suspension Order– the registrant is removed from the Register for a set period of time (up to two years).
• Admonishment– this is a stern warning given to the registrant for a set period (up to five years). The registrant is able to continue working.

See also Sanction explained.

A Conduct Hearing is usually held in public and the Health Committee is held in private. Both Committees hear evidence from the parties before coming to their decision using the civil standard of proof.

A registrant can appeal against a decision to the First-tier Tribunal (Care Standards).