Drunk social worker ‘offered detoxed client whiskey and magic mushrooms’

A SOCIAL worker, who had helped a client through detox, offered to buy him a drink in a pub, a misconduct hearing was told yesterday.

Craig McLoughlin, who was “hammered” and “off his head”, also offered the man magic mushrooms and asked him for cannabis and sleeping tablets, a committee of the General Social Care Council (GSCC) in London was told.

McLoughlin, aged 54, from Sheffield, was employed by the city council to work for the Sheffield Care Trust in mental health services from September 13, 2004, to March 31, 2005, and he worked in the north sector community health team, said Andrew Swan, representing the GSCC.

McLoughlin’s contract was extended to October 28, 2005, and he was involved with the care of the client, known only as Mr A, from October 2004.

Mr A had issues with psychosis, which were linked to substance and alcohol abuse, Mr Swan said, and McLoughlin was involved in arranging his attendance at a detox programme.

On May 27, 2005, McLoughlin was on a day off and was intoxicated “to the level of being drunk” in a pub, Mr Swan said.

“Mr A and his girlfriend, Miss C, went into the pub for a meal and the registrant invited them to join him at a table where he was sitting by himself and they did.

“The registrant then offered to buy an alcoholic drink for Mr A, namely whiskey, and produced a quantity of money from his pocket.

“He went on to express his view to Mr A that nobody could be without alcohol and that was despite the fact that Mr A had recently undergone detox.

“Mr A refused the offer of a drink.”

McLoughlin also offered Mr A magic mushrooms, which were in one of his pockets, and told Ms C he had consumed some of them, Mr Swan said.

“He asked Mr A if he had any weed or if he had any smoke — he took these to be references to cannabis... He also asked Mr A to get him some sleeping tablets.

“Mr A’s father passed away when he was only 13 — they had discussed this.

“The registrant said to Mr A in a raised voice: ‘Don’t worry about your dad, I’ll be your dad.’

“The registrant went on to shout to other customers: ‘I’m his social worker, this is our social work session’.”

Mr A telephoned his grandmother to tell her what was going on and she reported it to McLoughlin’s bosses, Mr Swan said.

During the investigation, McLoughlin accepted he had been very intoxicated and had consumed about one-and-a-half bottles of wine and a few pints.

He also confirmed he had met Mr A and Miss C that day. He also accepted he may have made some inappropriate comments.

McLoughlin, who was not present and not represented, faces seven charges amounting to an allegation of misconduct.