Social worker given Hot Deals web rap

Reporter: Beatriz Ayala
Date published: 13 September 2010


A SOCIAL worker has been given an 18-month admonishment after putting a colleague’s personal details on a website.

The woman, who has not been identified for legal reasons, admitted misconduct after using information gathered from work to put a colleague’s personal details on the “Hot Deals UK” website between April and November, 2008.

As a result, her female colleague received unwanted emails, services and goods including cat food, condoms, medical supplies and brochures.

The matter was brought before the Conduct Committee of the General Social Care Council in London.

The committee heard how the social worker had been warned by police about the matter under the Protection from Harassment Act on November 30, 2008.

But the committee recognised the woman had fully accepted responsibility at an early stage and admitted misconduct.

It decided the matter was not serious enough to sanction or suspend the woman.

A report on the committee’s decision states: “Although the committee did not hear from her directly, it accepted the submission by her representative that she understands the effect it had had on her colleagues.”