David Stephenson successfully represented a social worker who faced misconduct charges before the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).
The social worker faced misconduct charges which included allegations of dishonesty and patient neglect. Following a four day hearing, the Panel was satisfied that the social worker had not acted dishonestly, but had made an inadvertent and unintentional mistake as a result of extreme stress and anxiety. The Panel accepted counsel’s submissions that the acts giving rise to the proceedings were insufficient to constitute misconduct and was in any event satisfied that his practice was no longer impaired.