Kerry Burridge (nee Steward)
Registration Number :
01/SWCDT T22/20P
Charge details
1. Between April 2020 and on or around August 2020, Ms Burridge failed to maintain professional boundaries with the family of a client on her caseload by:
2. Entering into a close personal relationship with Mr X, the brother of a client on her caseload; and/or
3. Permitting Mr X’s use of a cell phone number allocated to Ms Burridge as a method of contact between him and probation services; and/or ? Visiting Mr X in prison outside of work hours; and/or
4. Attending the X family home, in her personal vehicle and outside of work hours on 17 June 2020. (Particular 1)
5. Between April 2020 and on or around August 2020, Ms Burridge (Particular 2):
6. Failed to identify and/or adequately disclose the actual or potential conflicts of interest arising from the relationship she had formed with members of the X family and particularly Mr X; and/or
7. Failed to take adequate steps to manage the conflict of interest arising from the relationship she had formed with members the X family in that: i. ii. Ms Burridge failed to seek out appropriate supervision with regard to the relationship formed with members of Mr X’s family; and/or Ms Burridge continued to provide social work services to the X family notwithstanding the close relationship formed with members of the X family.
8. Between April 2020 and on or around August 2020, Ms Burridge failed to attend and/or engage in regular professional supervision (Particular 3).
Result/Orders/Penalties
a. Ms Burridge is censured (section 83(1)(b)).
b. Ms Burridge’s registration as a social worker is suspended for six months (section 83(1)(a)(i)). This order is to take effect from the date of this decision.
c. Ms Burridge is ordered to undergo a professional development programme on the Code of Conduct and ethical practice in the social work profession, at her own expense. Any such programme must be approved by the Board and must have an emphasis on professional boundaries (to include managing conflicts of interest and related supervision) and the ethics of the social work profession (section 83(1)(d)).
d. Ms Burridge is to pay $12,300.00 by way of a contribution towards the total costs and expenses of and incidental to the PCC inquiry and the prosecution of the Charge (section 83(1)(e) (ii) and (iii))) 167.
e. Ms Burridge is to pay $7,000.00 by way of a contribution towards the total costs and expenses of and incidental to the Tribunal’s hearing (section 83(1)(e)(iv)).
Last updated
18 August 2026