EmailMike Wardle, chief executive of the General Social Care Council (GSCC) was suspended today and replaced, as an interim measure, with Paul Philip, currently deputy chief executive at the General Medical Council.
The shock move has arisen after an internal investigation identified a backlog of referrals regarding the GSCC's conduct service, which investigates claims that some social workers had not been adequately risk assessed and may pose a risk to the public.
Rosie Varley, chair of GSCC, said the situation ''was a matter of extreme concern to the council and to the department of health".
In a statement she said: "The protection of people using social care services is of paramount importance, and we are absolutely committed to doing everything within our powers as the workforce regulator to address misconduct and ensure the highest standards of practice.
"We have now reviewed all the cases in the backlog, and based on a risk assessment, have taken action to suspend any social workers facing serious allegations. Council and ministers have thus been provided with assurance that the risk to public protection in these cases has been appropriately managed.
"We have also drawn up plans to deal with the increasing level of referrals we now receive, for example appointing more investigators, and have recommended areas where our powers need to be strengthened. We have also suggested to government that the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence undertake a review of our conduct function, and I am delighted that this has now been commissioned."
Philip took up his post today and will be the GSCC's acting chief executive until further notice.
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