Northumberland childcare social worker suspended for series of failings

Social worker Samantha Lockyer has been suspended from the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) register for 12 months for a serious number of failings.

As a child care social worker for Northumberland County Council, Miss Lockyer did not complete Section 47 investigations for many months, failed to conduct visits to children who were vulnerable service users within required timescales. Other allegations proved against Miss Lockyer included failure to complete checks with appropriate agencies and not completing a full parenting assessment within the required timescale.

A panel of the HCPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard that Miss Lockyer who worked in the Blyth Locality Child Care team between 06 June 2011 and 15 July 2014 that investigations in March 2014 led to Miss Lockyer’s suspension and a formal disciplinary investigation on 15 July 2014 concluded with her dismissal for gross misconduct.

Panel Chair Ms Gill Madden commented: “To reach any other decision, taking account of the serious nature of these failings would undermine public confidence in the social work profession and in the HCPC’s regulatory function. The Panel had particular regard to the fact the serious failings involved acutely vulnerable children who were exposed to risk of harm.”

The Panel decided the most proportionate and appropriate conclusion was to impose a 12 month suspension with an interim suspension order to cover the appeal period.

Ms Lockyer was neither present nor represented at the hearing.