Social worker ‘shared info on Facebook’
A SOCIAL worker has admitted sharing information on Facebook that revealed confidential details about someone receiving care, a Social Care Wales hearing has heard.
Sharon Rosemary Williams also rolled a cannabis joint in a video posted online when she was employed by Carmarthenshire Council.
Miss Williams, who had been registered as a social worker since January 2016, was present at the online fitness to practise hearing, which began on Monday, to answer five specific allegations.
She is accused of naming someone receiving social care on social media between December 12 and 16, 2018, resulting in a breach of confidentiality, and of “openly smoking cannabis and/or referring to the use of cannabis”.
Also, on an unknown date prior to May 16, 2019, and while suspended by Carmarthenshire Council, it was alleged that Miss Williams visited the home address of a former client in breach of the terms of her suspension.
Following the end of her employment with the council she was also accused of threatening to disclose confidential information relating to people receiving care. This led to Carmarthenshire Council obtaining an injunction to stop her revealing the information.
Miss Williams admitted all these allegations, along with an allegation of continuing to smoke cannabis, but denied one claim against her which was that she lacked integrity with regard to her conduct.
Graham Miles from Social Care Wales said that on December 13, 2018, Miss Williams, who worked as a care co-ordinator and with individuals with serious mental health issues, posted videos on social media which were seen by her colleagues. She could be seen “rolling a joint and saying she was having a breakdown”, according to Mr Miles.
The panel heard that Miss Williams had sent a message to a colleague the previous night to say that she wanted to resign.
Mr Miles added: “The position seemed to deteriorate over the next few days. She named a service user on Facebook, which included the full name of the individual concerned and a number of characteristics which were of a confidential nature.”
It was noted that the Facebook posts were not made under the name of Sharon Williams but under a different name, but people understood and knew that to be Miss Williams, a fact that she did not dispute.
The social worker was suspended on December 17, 2018, and an investigation was launched.
She accepted sharing confidential information and smoking cannabis.
She was apologetic and insisted at the time that the use of cannabis was a “one-off”, although she admitted on Monday that she continued to use the drug.
However, she later threatened in an email to reveal further confidential information, which led to Carmarthenshire Council seeking and obtaining an injunction against her.
Miss Williams said she lost her mother, who had taken her own life, and added she was under stress during her employment due to the discovery of a lump in her breast.
The hearing, which is expected to last four days, continues.