Social worker who had relationship with prisoner is struck off

A SOCIAL worker has been struck off after forming an illicit relationship with a prisoner in her care.

Sarah Chaplin, 26, was removed from her profession's register after she began an "inappropriate relationship" with the inmate.

She became romantically involved with the unnamed man after she was appointed to visit him at Perth Prison.

When her bosses at Perth and Kinross Council discovered the relationship, they suspended Ms Chaplin, before moving her to other duties.

However, she denied the relationship and continued to see the man, before she was sacked by the local authority earlier this year.

She has now been removed from the social work register after she was found to have brought the profession into disrepute.

In a damning report released yesterday, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) warned that Ms Chaplin could target other vulnerable men if allowed to remain a social worker.

The social work watchdog said: "The registrant knowingly misled and deceived her employer in relation to the existence and nature of her personal relationship with the man, as well as her continued contact with him.

"The registrant has shown no insight, exercised poor judgment and ultimately behaved recklessly in her actions and omissions.

"The sub-committee considered that the registrant was either unwilling or unable to follow and adopt any counselling and/or instruction that has, or would be given in the future, and therefore could not be satisfied that she would not act in the same manner in the future."

The report said action was necessary to ensure confidence in the social work service was not damaged.

It stated: "The sub-committee concluded that there was a genuine risk to the public if the registrant was allowed to continue in her role as a social worker.

"The public interest in maintaining confidence in social services would be undermined if the registrant was permitted to remain on the register."

A one-day hearing heard that Ms Chaplin had qualified as a social worker in May, 2006, and started working for Perth and Kinross Council the following October. She was allocated as the social worker for the prisoner between May and December 2008 and visited him in jail.

She was first questioned about her involvement with him in August 2008 and denied allegations of impropriety.

However, Ms Chaplin was suspended at a disciplinary hearing in December of that year and warned to end the relationship, but failed to do so.

A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council said they would not comment on individuals.