The decision to suspend Wardle was made after the council alerted the government to its backlog of misconduct cases, some of which had not been properly risk assessed.
Wardle has been suspended while the council investigates how the backlog arose.
Rosie Varley, chair of the General Social Care Council, said: "We have 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."
The council has now reviewed all cases in the backlog and suspended any social workers facing serious allegations.
Varley added: "Council and ministers have thus been provided with assurance that the risk to public protection in these cases has been appropriately managed."
The GSCC has also asked for the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence to undertake a review of is conduct function.
As an interim measure, Paul Philip, currently deputy chief executive at the General Medical Council, has taken the position of acting chief executive.
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