A SOCIAL worker who was found to have obstructed a child abuse investigation has been suspended for four months by his professional watchdog.

John Barrie Arnold, who worked for Blackburn with Darwen Council, was said to have acted in a ‘deplorable’ fashion when he failed to provide details of youngsters involved in an abuse probe to the children and young people’s service in St Helens in December 2014.

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The social worker was also accused of ‘adopting an aggressive tone’ when his conduct was being investigated by the council later, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) was told.

Arnold was found to have used his work e-mail and position as a social worker to express support for, or deny the involvement of, an adult who may have posed a risk to children,and share these views with councillors, a conduct and competence panel heard.

Further charges relating to having direct contact with the St Helens department, concerning the case, and misusing his professional qualifications during the same episode, were found not proved after a three-day hearing at the council’s HQ in London.

Greg Foxsmith, for the HCPC, said Arnold had claimed he had not provided the information required because he had not been given an explanation.

But a St Helens social worker, in evidence, insisted he had identified himself fully.

Announcing his suspension, panel chairman Deborah Fowler, said: “The panel believes, given that it sees the lack of insight as remediable but also sees some risk of repetition, that a short period of suspension is desirable in which Mr Arnold can demonstrate whether he has developed understanding and insight into his actions.”

The social worker was neither present nor represented during the conduct hearing.