REGISTRATION
A landmark case in the history of social work this March saw a fostering agency employee become the first person to be convicted of pretending to be a qualified social worker.
Under the Care Standards Act 2000, which made "social worker" a protected title, it is a criminal offence to purport to be a member of the profession - with intent to deceive - if you are not registered.
Harrow Magistrates Court found that Tracey Smith, from Oxhey Village, Hertfordshire, had misrepresented herself as a social worker while working in Harrow and elsewhere between November 2009 and August 2010.
Smith, an unqualified assistant social worker, had called herself a senior supervising social worker on references for two former colleagues, and asked a student to describe her as a supervising social worker on a reference. She pleaded guilty and was fined a total of £230.
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