A former Angus social worker is facing allegations of breaching client confidentiality and potentially compromising a police investigation into child abuse as a result.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) hearing into Maureen Konov from Kirriemuir began at Compass House in Dundee on Monday and is expected to run for most of the week.
It is alleged that when employed by Angus Council, Ms Konov submitted “integrated assessments” to the Scottish Children’s Administration about two youngsters, even though she knew these would be shared with their family.
This is alleged to have breached the children’s confidentiality as they detailed serious allegations of sexual abuse that one of the children had made against another member of their family.
The 2013 incident is also alleged to have risked compromising a police investigation into the claims of abuse as it would have alerted family members to the complaints before they could be formally interviewed.
Ms Konov is further accused of failing to manage supervised contact between the two children and their mother.
Another accusation is that in 2013, Konov failed to undertake a pre-birth risk assessment on a child.
The final allegation is that in 2013 Ms Konov failed to take appropriate action when informed that the child was in a relationship with a registered sex offender.
The “appropriate action” would have been for Ms Konov to consult with her team manager, to convene an “initial referral discussion” with other agencies and to visit the child within 24 hours of finding out about the relationship.
An Angus Council spokesman said: “We can confirm this individual is no longer employed by Angus Council.”
The local authority would not say whether she had left of her own accord or if she had been dismissed.
If the SSSC decides Ms Konov has breached the code of practice then she may be removed from the register to practice.