Francesca Lynch
Conduct following termination of employment with Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) Particular 1: Between 1 September 2019 and 31 December 2020, the social worker engaged in conduct that was threatening and/or harassing towards Mr X [name permanently suppressed], an employee of CDHB, namely by; i.
Sending direct messages to Mr X on social media from a social media profile in the name of “Willie Morris”; and/or ii. Leaving voicemails on Mr X’s phone that were abusive and contained personal threats about Mr X’s job and personal safety. Particular 2: Between 1 September 2019 and 31 December 2020, the social worker made posts on social media from a social media account in her name that made disparaging remarks about the reputation and character of CDHB and Mr X.
Conduct whilst employed by the Salvation Army Particular 3: Between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2020, the social worker engaged in an unprofessional and/or inappropriate relationship with a Salvation Army client, (Mr Z – name permanently suppressed), including by: iii. Spending a significant amount of time with Mr Z when he was not the social worker’s direct social work client but a client of the Salvation Army; and/or iv. sending a significant number of text messages and placing a number of calls to Mr Z’s phone, and receiving a number of text messages from Mr Z on her work phone. Particular 4: alleged that the social worker’s conduct breached Principles 1, 5, 6, 8 and 9 of the Code of Conduct applying to social workers.
a. Ms Lynch is censured (section 83(1)(b)). b. Ms Lynch’s registration as a social worker is cancelled (section 83(1)(a)(i)). c. Ms Lynch is to pay $20,110.00 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)). d. Ms Lynch is to pay $12,793.00 by way of a contribution towards the total costs and expenses of and incidental to the Tribunal’s hearing (section 83(1)(e)(iv)).