A FORMER Thurrock Council social worker who enabled a “violent” teenage mother to keep her child has been suspended from his profession.

Malcolm Gilman, from Grays, has been banned from working for 12 months after a Health and Care Professions Council misconduct hearing found him guilty of defying his bosses’ bid to take the young girl into care during family court proceedings.

The tribunal in London heard Mr Gilman was the case worker for the girl, known as Child A, who was taken to hospital after receiving head injuries during a clash between her teenage mum and her mother’s sister in November 2012.

The 18-year-old mother, who had been in care herself, was known to social services at the time of the birth due to regular fights with her family.

A Health and Care Professions Council report after the suspension said: “The mother of Child A had been involved in an allegedly violent domestic incident with her sister and Child A had been present and had received a head injury.

There were concerns the mother was indifferent to the fact Child A had been injured.”

On November 19, 2012, the council applied to the family proceedings court, in Basildon, for the youngster to be taken into care.

The tribunal was told Mr Gilman gave evidence to that court hearing that he did not feel the child would be in immediate harm in her mother’s care and he did not recommend the separation.

This was at odds with superiors and the council application.

Initially, he had supported the application, but the Health and Care Professions Council conduct and competence panel heard he gave no reason why he had changed his position and there was no new evidence to supported the change.

Panel chair Sarah Baalham said: “This was an isolated incident and Mr Gilman’s failings are capable of remedy.

“However, he has provided no evidence of appropriate insight or any attempt on his part to address or remedy the failings.”

Mr Gilman, who resigned after the council launched a probe, was not present nor represented at the hearing.