HEROIN TOT WORKER GUILTY OF MISCONDUCT

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A Social worker has been disciplined over her handling of a case involving the baby of junkie parents. Neath Port Talbot Council employee Tracey Lee Wood had denied charges of misconduct put to her at a Care Council for Wales conduct hearing. However, following a three-day hearing, she was found guilty of misconduct in two of the three charges against her and given a two-year admonishment. The charges concerned failures to follow policy in relation to child protection matters. The main case against Ms Wood was that she hadn't informed superiors quickly enough of her concerns, after visiting the one-year-old baby's mum. The committee heard how the baby's mother told Ms Wood she planned to leave the child with a 16-year-old neighbour while she went to work in a massage parlour. The mum said she was going to drink a bottle of vodka before work, and then retrieved some cannabis from the side of a sofa where the baby had been sitting. Janet Kirk, then deputy manager of the child assessment team, said of the incident: "I would have expected any social worker going into this situation to seek advice." Ms Wood tearfully told the committee she had felt her concerns went unheard. She said that after returning from the visit, she had tried to discuss the issue with Mrs Kirk, but described her as dismissive. Mrs Kirk, however, denied this conversation ever took place. Ms Wood also pointed out there had been serious concerns about the baby, referred to as Child A, prior to her involvement. She said CID officers had raided the parent's home on October 16, 2005 and spotted the tot about to pick up heroin. Because of this, said Ms Wood, the police had raised the alarm and another social worker visited on October 18. The child was staying with its grandmother at the time and the social worker considered it to be safe, the committee heard. However, Ms Wood pointed out the gran in question had mental health problems and was only looking after the baby while its mum was absent, thought to be appearing on TV's Jeremy Kyle Show. She said: "I was appalled no previous action had been taken on October 18." The committee heard it was the very next day - on October 19, 2005 - that Ms Wood was handed the case. She had been off with stress for four months and only recently returned to work. Ms Wood also alleged she had been bullied by her then manager, Julie Thomas, before going on leave, and said: "The bullying had got to such an extent that I felt suicidal."