A Luton social worker has been struck off the Health and Care Professional Council register for failing to maintain professional boundaries with a service user while working at Luton Borough Council as a youth justice worker.
A panel of the HCPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard that Joanne McGovern had an inappropriate relationship with Service User A, a 17-year-old male. She allowed him to visit her at her home on several occasions, gave him gifts and visited him at home two to four times a week.
She also allowed A to drive her car and rented a car for him although she knew he did not hold a full driving licence. On one occasion, A was arrested in the hire car and on another he was involved in an accident.
Panel Chair Alexander Yule said: “The Panel considers that Mrs McGovern’s actions fell well below the standard expected of a registered social worker. Her actions had the potential to cause harm to Service User A. She recklessly disregarded the risk of harm to Service User A, who was a vulnerable young person.
“The Panel is satisfied from the evidence before it that Mrs McGovern’s actions did cause harm to Service User A’s family, to the reputation of the Luton Borough Council Youth Offending Service and to the profession.”
The Panel struck Mrs McGovern from the Register with an interim suspension order in place to cover the appeal period.
Mrs McGovern was not at the hearing.