Liam Fee social worker guilty of misconduct

A social worker who was involved in the case of murdered toddler Liam Fee has been found guilty of misconduct.

Liam Fee was murdered by his mother and her partner.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) upheld 12 charges against former Fife social worker Lesley Bate, involving Liam and 14 other children.

In a number of cases, including Liam, the panel found her failings amounted to neglect of the children.

Mrs Bate, 60, who had denied all the charges, did not appear before the sub-committee, which heard she has relinquished her social work registration.

Liam Fee's mother Rachel Trelfa, 31, and her civil partner Nyomi Fee, 29, were found guilty of murdering Liam at a house near Glenrothes in Fife on 22 March 2014.

The hearing heard Liam's childminder had first raised concerns with Fife social workers in January 2013 after seeing a large bruise on the toddler's forehead.

Mrs Bate visited Liam's mother and accepted her version of events - that her son had fallen out of his cot.

The sub-committee heard Mrs Bate recommended no further involvement by social work.

She was accused of failing 15 other children over a 33-month period between December 2011 and August 2014.

The SSSC hearing heard the social worker was "disorganised and chaotic".

It will now consider what sanctions to impose.