Hearing told ‘inappropriate’ messages were sent to learners

A WORK-BASED learning practitioner sent “inappropriate” messages and images to learners on social media, a hearing has been told.

An Education Workforce Council (EWC) hearing was told that Christian Byard acted of “inappropriate professional conduct” by messaging learners at Cardiff City FC Community Foundation. He is accused of messaging four learners and that the messages were sexually motivated.

The hearing heard that a fourth learner also received messages and images from Mr Bayard after she left the foundation. The foundation is the official charity of Cardiff City FC and offers education and employment opportunities for young people.

The hearing heard how during his employment Mr Byard would oversee around 40 learners on a day to day basis, aged between 16 and 18 years old. Neither Mr Bayard nor any representative attended the hearing held yesterday.

It is alleged that in 2017, he messaged a former learner identified as ‘Learner D’ flirtatious messages and images.

The hearing heard that although the foundation did not hold receipt of all of these messages which were sent on social media platforms Snapchat and Facebook messenger, they were shown messages in which Mr Bayard acknowledged the original messages.

Mr Bayard accepted these allegations and, after the foundation received advice from a HR advisor, he was issued an informal warning.

Witness Simon Stephens, programme director at the foundation and a safeguarding lead, said that the decision was made to issue an informal warning due to the learner having left the programme, being over the age of 18 and that the learner did not want to make a formal complaint.

The safeguarding resolution reached after this instance was that Mr Byard would remove all contact details of former and current learners from his mobile phone and would include other members of staff in any exchange with learners.

He was also taken through the safeguarding procedures, and the professional standard expected by members of the foundation. The hearing was told that at the time of the accusations there was no formal policy regarding contact between staff and former learners.

Between March and October 2019, it is alleged that Mr Byard contacted three learners, known as Learner A, Learner B and Learner C via social media. It is also alleged that he sent images to learner A and/or Learner B.

The hearing heard how the foundation was first made aware of the messages allegedly sent by Mr Byard on October 23 in 2019. These proceedings were forwarded to the EWC on the same day. Mr Byard had already handed in his resignation on October 7 and his employment at the foundation concluded on October 27. No disciplinary action was taken.

The accusations were handed to South Wales Police who, the hearing was told, conducted an investigation between October 2019 and May 2020. The hearing was told no further action was taken by South Wales Police.

In her closing remarks, presenting officer Lisa Jones said that the registered person, Mr Byard, accepted sending messages to Learner A and Learner B and that these messages were inappropriate. She said that it was highly likely that the conduct was in pursuit of a future sexual motive and that the fact learners felt a pressure “not to disclose” the messages further highlights them as being inappropriate.

The committee has retired to make a decision and the hearing continues.