HOLDEN: REPRIMAND FOR SOCIAL WORKER WHO HARASSEDD FEMALE BOSS
A social worker who told a female colleague ‘you don’t know what those boots do to me’ was officially reprimanded for sexual harassment today (Thurs).
Christopher Holden made inappropriate comments to the woman who was his supervisor at Sandwell Council in the West Midlands for more than a year.
On one occasion he told her to ‘put that midriff away’, and on another he repeatedly touched her arm, despite being asked not to by other colleagues present.
In the lead up to her wedding anniversary, he even told her that if she came into work ‘walking straight’, it would mean she ‘had not had a good anniversary.’
Holden appeared before the conduct committee of the General Social Care Council (GSCC) in central London today to decide his future as a social worker.
The panel heard he had already received a police caution for harassing his colleague, and had been sacked by the council.
After hearing that he has fully admitted the charges against him and expressed remorse, the committee decided not to suspend his registration or throw him out of the profession.
Instead they issued him with an official admonishment, which will remain on his record for six months.
Panel chair Ian Daines said: ‘The registrant’s behaviour was wholly unacceptable, however he has a previous good history, expressed genuine regret and made full admissions, and so spared the complainant the ordeal of reliving her experience by giving evidence.
‘He has demonstrated insight and submitted a host of character references.
‘He has also already been punished by losing his employment.’
He said he also bore in mind that the harassment took place overtly, in front of other colleagues, that social services users had not been affected, and that Holden had not abused a position of power because the victim was his supervisor.
Nimi Bruce, for the GDCC, told the hearing that Holden made a series of inappropriate comments to his colleague on dates in 2008 and 2009.
On November 25 2009, he was seen by colleagues to be ‘inappropriately’ touching her arm, and rolled up her sleeve to expose her skin.
He continued to touch her on the arm despite her and the other colleagues present asking him not to.
The tribunal heard that on April 15 last year, he admitted harassment at Walsall Police station in respect of his behaviour towards his colleague, and accepted and official police caution.
Sam Ostreicher, representing Holden, argued that the panel should not impose a suspension or striking off order, stating that this would be ‘more of a punitive measure rather than a measure for the public protection.’
He said Holden had 10 years experience as a social worker, but had not worked since January this year.
He has a child of school age and £50,000 worth of mortgage debt to pay off.
Mr Ostreicher said that despite the fact that Holden’s partner is in work, his own lack of employment was ‘not a situation that can be maintained as far as the registrant’s finances are concerned.’
Holden admitted formal allegations relating to his behaviour between 2008 and November 2009, and also admitted accepting a police caution for harassment on April 15 last year.
ENDS
