Milton Keynes social worker affair with mother of client

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-22567275

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A social worker who had an inappropriate relationship with a vulnerable mother whose child's case she was assessing has been struck off.

Nichola Bond, who worked at Milton Keynes Council, also left confidential information and case papers where "Mrs A" could see them.

The Health and Care Professions Council heard she failed to tell her boss, even when they moved in together.

Ms Bond was struck off following a two-day hearing in London.

The Conduct and Competence Committee heard Ms Bond was responsible for eight to nine families, including home visits and assessments.

Mrs A, who had a "difficult background", formed part of the case load from March 2011, in respect of her child.

There was a need to address parenting concerns and the child was removed from her care for five weeks.

'Taking advantage'

The panel heard the relationship began when the child returned and "it was clear the professional boundaries were not maintained".

Ms Bond eventually told her manager and was suspended. She was investigated by the council, which described her as "taking advantage of Mrs A, knowing she was vulnerable".

The panel also heard Ms Bond took case files, notes, her work diary and work telephone to the home of Mrs A, who then read confidential information.

It said Ms Bond's evidence that she told Mrs A "not to read any confidential material" demonstrated, at best, a "high level of naivety".

She had a good work record and had been promoted but had "demonstrated a reckless disregard for normal standards of conduct expected of a registered social worker".

They did not agree with Ms Bond that she did not receive adequate supervision and concluded the women "colluded in order deliberately to deceive the supervisor about the true nature of the relationship and where Ms Bond was living".

The panel said the only appropriate and proportionate sanction was to strike off.