A SOCIAL worker who admitted failings across the whole range of his practice, while part of a team working with Blaenau Gwent's most vulnerable children, is beginning a two-year suspension.

Marius Sacalos was found guilty of what a Care Council conduct committee called "serious misconduct" over an 18-month period, during which he was part of Blaenau Gwent county borough council's Looked After Children Team.

The registered social worker, no longer employed by the council, admitted 17 charges which included failing to arrange visits with service users, not informing his employer and other agencies of the outcomes of meetings, failing to maintain clear and accurate records and prepare for meetings, and not preparing adequately before giving evidence in court.

Following a hearing, the committee concluded that "because the registrant’s failings cover the whole range of his social work practice and occurred over an 18-month period, and because the potential serious harm to the children that he was responsible for was significant and real... the misconduct, taken as a whole, must be considered as serious.”

Committee members decided Mr Sacalos had breached sections two, five and six of the code of practice for social care workers. These cover the need to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of service users and carers, uphold public trust and confidence in social care services, be accountable for the quality of work, and take responsibility for maintaining and improving knowledge and skills.

Previously subject to an interim suspension order, Mr Sacalos was given a two-year suspension order that prohibits him from describing himself as, or practising as, a registered social worker in the UK for that period.