This section provides information for people who want to raise a concern about a social service worker.
What concerns can we look at?
A social service worker is fit to practise if they meet the standards of character, conduct and competence to do their job safely and effectively.
Where a worker’s behaviour or actions fall below the standards we expect, we can investigate and take action.
We can investigate concerns about a worker’s:
- conduct
- professional practice
- health.
For more information see:
- Raising a concern: Guidance for members of the public and colleagues
- Member of the public referral form
What can we not look at?
- Complaints about a service. These may be about how services are provided, withdrawal or unavailability of a service. Services themselves will usually deal with these complaints.
However, if a worker has failed to do something, or has done something badly that has resulted in the service not being provided, we may consider it.
- Decisions made by workers. Workers make decisions using their knowledge, skills, experience and training. They also have to work within the resources available to them. Sometimes they make decisions that not everyone agrees with. If you feel concerned about the way a worker has behaved or acted when making a decision, you should raise this with the service directly.
However, if you feel concerned about a worker’s behaviour or actions when making decision, we may consider it.
- Change of worker. We cannot ask a service to change an allocated worker. This is a matter for the service and you should raise it with them.