firstly if a child were to disclose abuse to this SW would she/could she report it?

secondly, what if this was a teacher, probationer officer..or a Police Officer what would your views be then?

Thirdly, I think we can hazard a guess at the professional view if this was a service user behaving on this way..

Fourth, social workers also abuse children!

However, that the council felt they restored public confidence in the wisdom and oversight of the officials in the council is laughable, that is high sounding and short sighted.

If, however, they referred the social worker to her professional body for sanction, then the public would know they could depend on the council to do the right thing. Authority and oversight cannot reside in the same body, ridiculous. The council is not a parent and the social worker is not a child.

I agree with Anita, it seems like all the responsibility has been placed on one individual & whilst she may have demonstrated negligence, this has to be seen in context. The Police & LA had professional obligations to safeguard & the allegations against A were known by them! Why didn’t they take action to ensure the risk A presented to children was minimised? Will police and the local authority be sanctioned? It is person A who is the child abuser & any complicity stretches far beyond his ex-partner. The assumption of innocence until proven guilty means what here, did his ex have any room for doubt? It is Police, the courts & LA that have the burden of professional responsibility to safeguard in the individual case. Men like person A can be very convincing & often target women that will provide a good & unwitting cover to their activities. There are many victims in these circumstances. I’ve seen many women who have spoken out be disbelieved and written off as mad for airing their suspicions, they’ve turned out to be correct later down the line when much unavoidable damage has been caused. It seems all to often, where child abuse allegations are concerned, you’re dammed if you do and you’re damned if you don’t. Whistleblowers often fair even less well than this woman has! It’s not an easy job, to often we are the Pattsie’s for other more culpable organisations.

I’m happy to express agreement – if only to justify me in criticising them when I next (and there will be a ‘next’ I’m sure) have cause to express incredulity & call for the hcpc to be hastened on their way due to yet another example of overthetopness on their part.