The College discipline panel found a registrant social worker guilty of professional misconduct for making sexualized remarks to two vulnerable teenage clients during school counselling sessions.
Applying the balance of probabilities to an agreed statement of facts and admissions, the panel held the conduct breached professional standards, constituted sexual abuse within the governing statute, and amounted to disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional conduct.
A publication ban was granted to protect the clients’ identities and identifying school information.
The panel accepted a joint submission imposing a reprimand, publication of the finding and order, and $5,000 in costs, noting the registrant had permanently surrendered his certificate and undertaken never to practise again.
