News 2008
Click on the titles below to check out recent news stories and press releases relating to NISCC. Please note that some of the links lead to downloadable documents. Material for previous years can be accessed by clicking on the links on the left hand side.
Social Worker Suspended by Northern Ireland Social Care Conduct Committee
A Conduct Committee of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) which met on 20 June 2008 decided the case of a social worker who was alleged to have breached the NISCC Code of Practice for Social Workers by:
(a) failing to make any or any adequate reports to the Causeway Social Services Trust regarding unallocated childcare referrals; and
(b) failing to carry out operational responsibilities so that childcare referrals were permitted to reach critical levels.
The committee concluded that these were serious charges involving potential risk to vulnerable children and such conduct seriously breached the NISCC Codes of Practice.
Misconduct was found against the Registrant, Mr James Patrick Loughrey (Registration Number NI/1100571) and the Committee, having carefully considered the evidence placed before it, including the mitigation, the testimonials and the medical advice, decided that the appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case was to suspend the registrant’s registration for a period of 12 months.
Suspension of the registrant’s registration means he is not able to practise in social care. The Committee considered that this sanction would protect the interests of the public and promote public confidence in the Council.
Further information available from www.ukhca.co.uk
IHCP Awards & Gala Dinner - 16 October 2008 (Templepatrick)
This year, to mark their tenth anniversary, the Independent Health and Care Providers are celebrating a gala dinner and awards for Registered Care Manager, Domiciliary Carer; Care Home Carer; Registered Nurse, Support Staff and Care Chef. This should be a truly memorable evening which acknowledges and celebrate the enormous contribution dedicated staff members and many care home/organisations make to society in Northern Ireland. The nominations for the awards will open in March. Further information is available from www.ihcp.co.uk or email nikkiisles@hotmail.co.uk
BASW (NI) Healers of the Past Conference - 30 May 2008 (Belfast)
This conference aims to raise the conversation of how the political conflict has impacted on professionals and lay helpers. Objectives of the day are to: increase awareness of how conflict (political) has impacted on individual families and groups; highlight good models of practice; raise awareness of support structures available and how to access these; and identify the ethical issues. Click here to download the programme and booking form. Further information is available from BASW (NI) - E-mail: n.ireland@basw.co.uk or telephone 028 90648873
UKHCA Recruitment, Retention & Dementia Workshop - 22 May 2008 (Belfast)
This conference focuses on effective measures to recruit and retain care workers. It includes an afternoon session on caring for people with dementia. More information is available from www.ukhca.co.uk
March 2008 - UK Skills National Training Awards
The National Training Awards are designed to celebrate organisations and individuals that demonstrate outstanding business and personal success through investment in training. By recognising best practice, the awards aim to raise awareness and inspire others to invest in learning and development as a route to becoming world class. The National Training Awards are run by UK Skills on behalf of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Recognised as the most prestigious training awards in the UK, they now in their 21st year and have been restyled for 2008 to more fully reflect the needs of today's economy and society, and to provide equal opportunity for all organisations and individuals across every sector. Closing date for nominations is 25 April 2008. More information is available from www.nationaltrainingawards.com
Mar 2008 - International Federation Of Social Workers, Global Social Work Day - 15 April 2008
Social Work - Making a World of Difference’
Social Workers around the World join together to celebrate the Second World Social Work Day April 15, 2008. This annual event is held to focus on social work's contributions to society and be part of an ongoing dialogue with all partners on how challenges linked to social conditions can met by communities. The general theme for the World Social Work Day is "Social Work - Making a World of Difference", and is initiated by the International Federation of Social Workers, a global body for social workers in 84 countries around the globe. The purpose of the day is to have social workers all over the world prepare and participate in different kinds of events which will bring out a positive message from social work, making people aware of our contributions to society, and giving social workers a sense of recognition of and pride in the profession. More information is available from www.ifsw.org
Feb 2008 - BASW (NI) Award for Outstanding Achievement - Final Call
BASW (NI) is offering an award to an individual social worker at any grade who can demonstrate outstanding competence, innovation and integrity in their related area of practice. An inclusive interpretation of area of practice is encouraged to facilitate submissions from direct service user practice, management and education and training.
An organisation, individual worker, colleague, manager or a user of service can make submissions. The submission, in no more than 750 words, should outline:
- The particular area of competence of the individual
- The nature and impact of the innovative practice
- The nature and impact of the integrity
Entries should be submitted to: BASW (NI) Award for Outstanding Achievement, Douglas House, 397 Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 3GP or by e-mail to: n.ireland@basw.co.uk
Telephone 028 9064 8873 Closing Date 31 March 2008
NI Dementia Care Awards and Conference – May 2008
The Dementia Care Wards, organised by the NI Dementia Service Development Centre, celebrate the innovation and good practice of organisations and individuals working to improve the quality of life for people with dementia. The awards will be presented at the conference ‘Embracing the Challenge: Citizenship and Dementia in Belfast on 7 May 2008. Closing date for award nominations is 21 March 2008. More information about the awards and the conference are available from: www.dementiacentreni.org
News Release
27 February 2008
Social Care Worker Admonished by Northern Ireland Social Care Conduct Committee
A Conduct Committee of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) which met on 27 February 2008 decided the case of a social care worker who was alleged to have breached the NISCC Code of Practice for Social Care Workers by acting contrary to a specific instruction from his manager as well as submitting a falsified receipt to his employer for accommodation which he did not use.
Misconduct was found against the Registrant, Mr Martin Noel McCann (Registration Number NI/1099195) and he was admonished (cautioned) with a record of the admonishment placed against his registration on the Social Care Register for a period of five years.
In arriving at the decision to admonish Mr McCann, the Committee concluded that by not following a direct instruction to stay in approved accommodation whilst accompanying a service user on a trip and subsequently submitting a falsified receipt, he had breached the Code of Practice in that he had not been honest and trustworthy, reliable and dependable and did not carry out his duties in a lawful, safe and effective way.
When making their decision, the committee took into account Mr McCann’s twelve years service as a social care worker. They recognised that his action of submitting a falsified receipt was not motivated by personal financial gain and although they did consider the potential risks involved, they concluded that the service user was not exposed to risk or harm and no risk or harm to the public had resulted.
Dr Jeremy Harbison, NISCC Chair, said:
“Registration with the Council requires each registrant to make a personal and professional commitment to high standards in their conduct and practice. Social care workers, like all those registered with the NISCC, must be reliable and dependable. They have a duty to act appropriately at all times and must not bring the profession into disrepute.”
“The establishment of the NISCC Social Care Register is a major step towards improving and maintaining standards in social work and social care. There are over 200,000 people using social care services in Northern Ireland and they can now have confidence that the small number of workers registered with the NISCC who do not meet our minimum standards, will be held accountable and can be cautioned or removed from the Register where the Council deems it necessary to protect the public from poor standards of conduct or practice.”
Notes to editors:
1.For further information on this press release, please contact NISCC Communications Officer, Laura Campbell Tel: 028 9041 7610, Mobile: 07920787815.
2. NISCC investigates fully all allegations of misconduct against Registrants. Conduct hearings are held where a NISCC Registrant is suspected of misconduct after evidence has been gathered. The Conduct Committee is made up of five members who have an interest or background in the social care sector but take decisions in the public interest. Three of the Committee members are lay members. Options open to the Committee are admonishment, suspension or removal of the registrant from the Register.
3. In order to protect the confidentiality of witnesses for Conduct cases, including children, witnesses may not be identified. NISCC may be able to release only limited information on some cases to ensure that confidentiality of witnesses or those affected by the case is protected.
4.The NISCC is unable to confirm how long a hearing will last, or whether there will be adjournments or requests for them to be held in private. In accordance with the NISCC's Conduct Rules, hearings may be held in private if the particular circumstances of the case outweigh the public interest in holding a public hearing.
A full copy of the Conduct Rules is available to download here.
News Release
20 February 2008
Social Care Worker Admonished by Northern Ireland Social Care Conduct Committee
A Conduct Committee of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) which met on 19 February 2008 decided the case of a social care worker who was alleged to have breached the NISCC Code of Practice for Social Care Workers by administering a contraceptive injection to a resident when she was not qualified to do so.
Misconduct was found against the Registrant, Mrs Jennifer Margaret Scott (Registration Number NI/1099407) and she was admonished (cautioned) with a record of the admonishment placed against her registration on the Social Care Register for a period of five years.
In arriving at the decision to admonish Mrs Scott, the Committee concluded that by administering a contraceptive injection when she was not qualified to do so, Mrs Scott breached the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers, in that her actions did not meet relevant standards of practice which required her to work in a lawful, safe and effective way.
The Committee took into account that the Registrant had co-operated fully throughout the proceedings, had admitted to the charge and accepted that her actions amounted to misconduct. They noted that Mrs Scott believed that she acted in the best interest of the service user; that her openness, honesty and remorse was evident; and that she took full responsibility for her actions.
Dr Jeremy Harbison, NISCC Chair, said:
“Registration with the Council requires each registrant to make a personal and professional commitment to high standards in their conduct and practice. Social care workers, like all those registered with the NISCC, must be reliable and dependable. They have a duty to act appropriately at all times and must not bring the profession into disrepute.”
“The establishment of the NISCC Social Care Register is a major step towards improving and maintaining standards in social work and social care. There are over 200,000 people using social care services in Northern Ireland and they can now have confidence that the small number of workers registered with the NISCC who do not meet our minimum standards, will be held accountable and can be cautioned or removed from the Register where the Council deems it necessary to protect the public from poor standards of conduct or practice.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
1.For further information on this press release, please contact NISCC Communications Officer, Laura Campbell Tel: 028 9041 7610, Mobile: 07920787815.
2. NISCC investigates fully all allegations of misconduct against Registrants. Conduct hearings are held where a NISCC Registrant is suspected of misconduct after evidence has been gathered. The Conduct Committee is made up of five members who have an interest or background in the social care sector but take decisions in the public interest. Three of the Committee members are lay members. Options open to the Committee are admonishment, suspension or removal of the registrant from the Register.
3. In order to protect the confidentiality of witnesses for Conduct cases, including children, witnesses may not be identified. NISCC may be able to release only limited information on some cases to ensure that confidentiality of witnesses or those affected by the case is protected.
4.The NISCC is unable to confirm how long a hearing will last, or whether there will be adjournments or requests for them to be held in private. In accordance with the NISCC's Conduct Rules, hearings may be held in private if the particular circumstances of the case outweigh the public interest in holding a public hearing.
A full copy of the Conduct Rules is available to download here.
News Release
7 February 2008
NISCC, RQIA and SCIE Publish New Research to Strengthen Service User Involvement in Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland
Service users, carers and social care representatives have welcomed the publication of a new report which looks across health and social care services for children, young people and adults in NI to identify ways of strengthening user involvement at all levels. ‘Looking out from the middle: user involvement in health and social care in NI’ is based on research commissioned by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC), the Regulation, Quality and Improvement Authority (RQIA) and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) to build on the progress they have made and to ensure there is more effective user and carer participation in their work to improve standards in health and social care.
The research team, led by Joe Duffy from Queen’s University Belfast, included members from a range of user and carer organisations who provided their perspective on successful user involvement. People who participated in the research said:
“We need to see if what we are being consulted about is making a difference … we have to be in the middle looking out. ….Organisations need to provide feedback about how the views of service users have brought about changes.”
Jeremy Harbison, NISCC Chair, opening the event said:
"NISCC, RQIA and SCIE want to ensure that the role of users and carers is placed at the centre of work in health and social care in Northern Ireland. We already use a variety of methods to ensure that users and carers have a voice in the development of a high quality workforce, the inspection and review process and in gathering knowledge about good practice. 'Looking Out From the Middle' provides us with some valuable insights into how we can achieve better results from user involvement."
He added:
“This work does not attempt to provide all of the answers in what is a complex area. What it does do, however, is help point the three organisations in directions that should be helpful in enabling them to achieve user participation in a way that is meaningful and worthwhile for all involved. NISCC, RQIA and SCIE will now take the recommendations in the report forward and use them to inform their own participation strategies. Any organisation providing, planning or commissioning health and social care services will find this report useful in helping them to develop more successful user involvement.”
The report and summary are available to download from the SCIE website http://www.scie.org.uk/ Printed copies and alternative versions of the report and summary are available free from SCIE. Telephone: 020 7089 6840 or Textphone: 020 7089 6893 to request your copy.
6 February 2008
Social Care Worker Admonished by Northern Ireland Social Care Conduct Committee
A Conduct Committee of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) on 6 February 2008 decided the case of a social work student from Belfast who was alleged to have breached the NISCC Code of Practice for Social Care Workers by failing to notify the Social Security Agency of a change in circumstances that affected his entitlement to Jobseeker's Allowance, an offence for which he was prosecuted and convicted.
Misconduct was found against the Registrant, Mr Paul Gilroy (Registration Number NI/1133327) and he was admonished (cautioned) with a record of the admonishment placed against his registration on the Social Care Register for a period of five years.
In arriving at the decision to admonish Mr Gilroy, the Committee concluded that intentionally committing fraud was a serious offence which breached the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers. Mr Gilroy had breached the requirements of the Code that Registrants must be honest and trustworthy and that their behaviour in work or outside work must not call into question their suitability to work in social care.
The Committee took into account that the Registrant had co-operated fully throughout the proceedings, had admitted to the charge and accepted that his actions amounted to misconduct. They noted that Mr Gilroy, in his statement to the Committee, had acknowledged he was wholly responsible for his actions, despite the mitigating circumstances he was experiencing at the time the fraud occurred and that he has repaid the amount owed to the Social Security Agency and completed the Community Service that the court had imposed as part of his sentence. The Committee also took into account that there was no other incident on the Registrant's record; that the university where he is currently studying social work had provided a positive reference on his behalf and that no service user was harmed or placed at risk as a result of his actions. In deciding to admonish Mr Gilroy, the Committee considered this was an appropriate sanction which reflected the seriousness of the breach of the Code of Practice.
Dr Jeremy Harbison, NISCC Chair, said:
“Registration with the Council requires each registrant to make a personal and professional commitment to high standards in their conduct. Social work students, like all those registered with the NISCC, must be honest and trustworthy. They have a duty to act appropriately at all times and must not bring the profession into disrepute.”
“The establishment of the NISCC Social Care Register is a major step towards improving and maintaining standards in social work and social care. There are over 200,000 people using social care services in Northern Ireland and they can now have confidence that the small number of workers registered with the NISCC who do not meet our minimum standards, will be held accountable and can be cautioned or removed from the Register where the Council deems it necessary to protect the public from poor standards of conduct or practice.”
Notes to editors:
1.For further information on this press release, please contact NISCC Communications Officer, André McKeown Tel: 028 9041 7610, Mobile: 07920787815.
2. NISCC investigates fully all allegations of misconduct against Registrants. Conduct hearings are held where a NISCC Registrant is suspected of misconduct after evidence has been gathered. The Conduct Committee is made up of five members who have an interest or background in the social care sector but take decisions in the public interest. Three of the Committee members are lay members. Options open to the Committee are admonishment, suspension or removal of the registrant from the Register.
3. In order to protect the confidentiality of witnesses for Conduct cases, including children, witnesses may not be identified. NISCC may be able to release only limited information on some cases to ensure that confidentiality of witnesses or those affected by the case is protected.
4.The NISCC is unable to confirm how long a hearing will last, or whether there will be adjournments or requests for them to be held in private. In accordance with the NISCC's Conduct Rules, hearings may be held in private if the particular circumstances of the case outweigh the public interest in holding a public hearing.
A full copy of the Conduct Rules is available to download here.
News Release
21 January 2008
Social Care Worker Removed from the NI Social Care Register
A Conduct Committee of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) on 21 January 2008 decided the case of a social care worker from Belfast who was alleged to have breached the NISCC’s Code of Practice for Social Care Workers by sleeping on duty and having failed to check on a service user at the appropriate time.
Misconduct was found against the Registrant, Ms Karen Sandra McConnell (Registration Number NI/1135802) and she was removed from the Social Care Register.
In arriving at the decision to remove the Registrant from the Register, the Committee regarded that sleeping on duty and consequently failing to check service users in her care at the appropriate time was a most serious breach of the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers. The Committee decided that although removing Ms McConnell from the NISCC Social Care Register has serious consequences, it was necessary to reflect the seriousness of the breach. Ms McConnell had breached the requirements in the Code that Registrants must be honest, trustworthy, reliable and dependable; and that they must not abuse, neglect or harm service users, carers or colleagues. She was also found to have behaved in a way that called into question her suitability to work in social care services and she had not met relevant standards of practice. The Committee took into account that the Registrant did not contest the charge and she had agreed that it was wrong to sleep whilst on duty. Ms McConnell did not make any representation to the Committee or present evidence of mitigating factors relating to this case.
Dr Jeremy Harbison, NISCC Chair, said:
“Registration with the Council requires each worker to make a personal and professional commitment to high standards in their training and practice. Social care workers have a vital role in supporting and protecting the needs of older people, people with a disability, children and families; helping them to live as safely and independently as possible. Registrants must be honest, reliable and dependable. They have a duty to act appropriately at all times and must not neglect or place service users, colleagues or themselves under unnecessary risk.”
“The establishment of the NISCC Social Care Register is a major step towards improving and maintaining standards in social work and social care. There are over 200,000 people using social care services in Northern Ireland and they can now have confidence that the small number of workers registered with the NISCC who do not meet our minimum standards, will be held accountable and can be cautioned or removed from the Register where the Council deems it necessary to protect the public from poor standards of conduct or practice.”
Notes to editors:
1. Hearings are normally open to members of the public. Anyone wishing to attend the hearing should contact Caroline Cumberland (Committee Clerk) on 028 9041 7644. For further information on this press release, please contact NISCC Communications Officer, André McKeown Tel: 028 9041 7610, Mobile: 07920787815.
2. NISCC investigates fully all allegations of misconduct against Registrants. Conduct hearings are held where a NISCC Registrant is suspected of misconduct after evidence has been gathered. The Conduct Committee is made up of five members who have an interest or background in the social care sector but take decisions in the public interest. Three of the Committee members are lay members. Options open to the Committee are admonishment, suspension or removal of the Registrant from the Register.
3. Witnesses for Conduct cases may not be identified. In order to protect the confidentiality of these witnesses, including children, limited information is available from the NISCC before the hearing.
4.The NISCC is unable to confirm how long a hearing will last, or whether there will be adjournments or requests for them to be held in private. In accordance with the NISCC's Conduct Rules, hearings may be held in private if the particular circumstances of the case outweigh the public interest in holding a public hearing.
A full copy of the Conduct Rules is available to download here.
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