Jacqueline Maree Wastney
1. (a) The social worker engaged in conduct which breached the Social Workers’ Registration Board’s Code of Conduct and/or conduct which brought, or was likely to bring discredit to the social work profession; alternatively (b) Conduct unbecoming a social worker reflecting adversely on her fitness to practise. 2. In particular, while employed by VisionWest Community Trust (VisionWest): (a) Between around October 2017 and November 2018, the social worker dishonestly took food parcels obtained from the 0800 Hungry Service which were intended for clients of VisionWest; and/or (b) In or around October 2018, the social worker dishonestly took 16 supermarket vouchers worth a total of $320 which were intended for clients of VisionWest.
a. Ms Wastney is censured (section 83(1)(b)). b. Ms Wastney is to practise as a social worker only in accordance with the following conditions on her individual scope of practice as to her employment and supervision (section 83(1)(a)(ii)): a. Ms Wastney must not be employed in a social work position (current or future) where she has any responsibility for the management or oversight of financial matters, money or related matters which have a financial element (for example, vouchers or food parcels for clients), for a period of two years. b. Ms Wastney is required to undergo monthly external supervision, at her cost, for a period of 12 months. The external supervisor must provide a written supervision report quarterly to the Board, to the satisfaction of the Board. The initial focus of the external supervision is to be on the conduct which led to the charges and Ms Wastney is to provide a reflective statement about how she would approach similar matters in the future. The reflective statement is to be provided to the Board as part of the external supervisor’s first quarterly report. The particular focus of the remainder of the supervision is to be on ethical practice and the Code of Conduct requirements as to honesty and integrity. c. Ms Wastney is required to provide a copy of the Tribunal’s decision to any current, prospective, and future employers, for a period of two years. c. Ms Wastney is to pay the sum of $13,225.00 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 Wastney is to pay the sum of $6,995.00 by way of a contribution towards the total costs and expenses of and incidental to the Tribunal’s hearing (section 83(1)(e)(iv)).