A Fife social worker has been disciplined after he left a child open to ”continued grooming and/or sexual abuse” by a known sex offender.
Philip Haywood, from Leven, was warned and his registration papers marked following a probe by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
An investigation carried out by the SSSC reveals Mr Haywood ignored ”numerous concerns” from fellow professionals regarding the safety of a child.
The dossier also shows he provided inaccurate information relating to the child, and that as a result of his failings youngsters were ”left exposed to a schedule one offender”.
A report by the SSSC confirms details of the disciplinary action.
Having been asked to undertake an initial assessment in respect of child A, Mr Haywood failed to fully interrogate the case files, failed to undertake detailed checks on profile notes and failed to pay cognisance to another professional’s numerous concerns regarding the safety and well-being of the child.
The report also states he did not even have any direct contact with the child while undertaking his assessment and went on to provide inaccurate information in an initial report regarding the youngster’s circumstances.
According to the SSSC’s findings, Mr Haywood, described as an experienced social worker, would have known what his professional responsibilities were in respect of child A.
”As a result of the registrant’s failings, child A and his family were left without the support they required and the children of the family were left exposed to a schedule one offender, X, his continued grooming and/or sexual abuse of them,” the report continued.
Mr Haywood has, according to the SSSC documentation, since accepted and apologised for his shortcomings.
”The registrant has acknowledged that he failed to follow up the initial request to obtain information held by the family protection unit,” it notes. ”He acknowledges that he should have met with child A as part of the assessment and that to not do so was unacceptable.”
Mr Haywood has also confessed that, had he read the profile notes, concerns would have been raised regarding child A’s relationship with X.
The SSSC probe concluded that Mr Haywood failed to comply with a total of seven sections of the code of practice for social workers. He also fell foul of regulations stating social workers must not put other people at unnecessary risk and the stipulation not to behave in a way that would call into question suitability to work in social services.
Mr Haywood further failed to maintain clear and accurate records and did not ”recognise and respect” the roles and expertise of workers from other agencies.
The SSSC’s warning will remain on Mr Haywood’s registration for the next two years.
However, the report gives him credit for taking on board the findings and notes he has since taken steps to prevent any future failings.
”In reaching its decision the council took account of the fact the registrant has undertaken further training and learning at post-graduate level in child protection since being issued with a written warning by his employer,” the SSSC states.
”The registrant agreed to the imposition of the warning by way of acceptance form … and the warning came into effect on October 26.”
When contacted by The Courier a spokeswoman for Fife Council said it could not comment on any individual members of staff.
A number of sanctions are open to the SSSC in cases of misconduct. These include removal of the worker, a period of suspension and the imposition of a warning.