RC v GSCC

The appellant appeals under section 68 of the Care Standards Act 2000 against the decision of the General Social Care Council, (hereinafter �GSCC�) made on the 20 th October 2010 to order the removal of the appellant's registration from the register of social workers maintained under section 56 of the Act.

At the hearing on the 14 th March, the Tribunal placed little emphasis on the distinction between review and rehearing, it seemed inappropriate both in the light of the nature of the appeal and the unrepresented appellant.� In the event, the appellant's first point (procedural fairness) led to a hearing more in the nature of a review, his other points led to proceedings more in the nature of a rehearing.

It appeared at an early stage that the appellant did not have the same bundle of documents as others present, he appeared to have an earlier bundle containing most of the documents in the trial bundle, but differently paginated.� A copy of the trial bundle was made available to him, and the Tribunal ensured that he was at no disadvantage because the documents were in a different order.

The Tribunal, having heard Mr Mickelwright�s opening remarks, heard oral evidence from Ms Stephanie O�Brien.� Her evidence in chief concluded shortly before the luncheon adjournment and the Tribunal allowed an extra half-hour so that the appellant would have the opportunity to consider her evidence and any questions he wished to put to her.

The respondent�s case closed with Ms O'Brien's evidence and the Tribunal explained to the appellant that he should choose whether to give evidence, but that he would be entitled to make submissions whether or not he gave evidence. If he chose to give evidence, what he said would carry greater weight, but he would be subject to cross-examination by Mr Micklewright.� The appellant elected to give evidence.� He called no other witness, but submitted a written statement from his partner (referred to as ' G ').