Liam Fee social worker faces 13 conduct charges

Social services boss describes Lesley Bate as ‘chaotic’ and ‘disorganised’

A social worker involved in the care of murdered toddler Liam Fee was the subject of a “lengthy” disciplinary investigation prior to being appointed, it has been claimed.

Lesley Bate is facing a series of conduct charges over her role with Fife Council between December 2011 and August 2014.

Her boss James Ross yesterday gave evidence to the Scottish Social Services Council subcommittee carrying out a probe into her actions. Mr Ross said she was “disorganised”, “chaotic” and “the most erratic person I have worked with”.

Bate faces a total of 13 charges relating to 16 different children, including several allegations she “failed to take necessary steps to minimise actual or potential risk of harm”.

A social worker involved in the care of tragic tot Liam Fee was yesterday branded “disorganised”, “chaotic” and “the most erratic person I have worked with” by her boss at a probe into her conduct.

Lesley Bate faces a succession of charges over her role as a social worker with Fife Council between December 2011 and August 2014.

Bate, who has chosen not to appear before the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) conduct sub-committee investigating the allegations, was a member of the Glenrothes Child Protection Team who managed Liam Fee’s case

Liam, above, was murdered by his mother and her civil partner at their home in Thornton in March 2014.

One charge against Bate is that she failed to follow up concerns raised by a childminder about a one-year-old boy, labelled FF in SSSC documents.

It alleges that despite the carer raising concerns on January 15 2013 “regarding bruising to the face” of the baby – and the next month that “he had a sore neck” – Bate did not act.

During the murder trial of Rachel and Nyomi Fee, childminder Heather Farmer told the court she contacted the Scottish Childminding Association in January 2013 after Liam turned up with scratches and bruises to his face.

In a separate incident, she raised concerns about the toddler’s neck after he was dropped off at her home on February 18 2013.

The hearing was told that Bate’s manager, following Liam’s death, had “serious questions about her assessment of risk”.

Bate faces a total of 13 charges relating to 16 different children, including several allegations that she “failed to take necessary steps to minimise actual or potential risk of harm” for them.

The SSSC conduct sub-committee heard that in the months after Liam’s death Bate had been under a disciplinary investigation and had been off sick.

When she returned she was moved to the Children and Families Team based in Dunfermline.

Her manager there, James Ross, told the hearing how he had tried to “help and support” Bate on her return, but that her work had been “poor”.

In one case involving concerns of neglect the hearing was told she failed to undertake planned weekly visits with the express aim of “keeping children safe”, claiming she simply “forgot”.

Mr Ross said: “She was probably the most erratic person I have worked with.

“She was very disorganised and presented chaotically.”

The hearing was told that Bate has “relinquished” her registration as a social worker with the SSSC but does not admit any of the charges against her.

The hearing continues.

She was probably the most erratic person I have worked with. JAMES ROSS