Zim social worker in the UK suspended over child cruelty

UNITED KINGDOM – A Zimbabwean social worker has been suspended from The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Register for a period of 12 months after receiving a caution from West Midlands Police for neglect and child cruelty.

Mrs Tsitsi Nhevera provided social work services to the Coventry City Council through an agency but a police caution administered to her on 11 April 2014 in respect to the offence of “neglect-child cruelty” resulted in the suspension.

A Conduct and Competence Committee Panel sat down to hear her case but Mrs Nhevera was not present or represented at the hearing. Full details of the “neglect-child cruelty” charges were not made available.

The Panel further heard that the caution was administered in respect of an offence that is very relevant to Mrs Nhevera’s work, given that her area of practice since qualifying has been in working with children.

Panel Chair Nicola Bastin commented: “In the absence of any contact from Tsitsi Nhevera, it is difficult to assess her level of regret or insight. The core of the allegation relates to a single event albeit serious.

“Mrs Nhevera’s actions will have served to reduce public confidence in the social work profession, but nevertheless the Panel is satisfied that her shortcoming could be remedied, Bastin added.

The Panel decided the most appropriate sanction was to impose a 12-month suspension.