Social worker given caution notice by regulator after sending confidential documents to personal email

A Rutland County Council social worker has been handed a caution notice in force for 36 months by the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service.

Its Conduct and Competence Committee found Akbinder Kaur did not keep case records secure because she emailed a number of confidential documents to her personal email account.

She was employed as a locum social worker by Rutland and although not presently a social worker wishes to return to that profession.

The committee heard that Ms Kaur had admitted the allegation, apologised to the council and completed remedial training in data protection.

It said in its ruling that Ms Kaur had admitted her fitness to practise was impaired and she had demonstrated insight into her actions.

Given this and the low risk of repetition, the public would be adequately protected by the caution order, the committee said.

The existence of the order “would alert prospective employers as to the importance of identifying the appropriate role to be performed by the registrant”.

Mark Smulian