Complaint references: CR57

Complainant raised concerns around a remote assignment for a parenting assessment of a vulnerable deaf parent which involved a psychologist, the registrant, another BSL/English interpreter, deaf intermediary and the vulnerable parent. The registrant failed to turn off their microphone during a break and was heard disclosing the nature of the assessment to their partner, thereby breaching confidentiality and causing the assessment to be abandoned. The vulnerable parent was made aware of the disclosure and became extremely upset. The assessment was rescheduled but the vulnerable parent failed to attend.

Investigation conducted into potential breach of Sections 1.1, 2.1 and 6.1 of NRCPD's Code of Conduct.

Case Examiners decided based on the evidence provided, that there was a realistic prospect of finding an impairment of fitness to practice, and that it was in the public interest to refer the case to a Complaints Committee.

The Complaints Committee upheld the allegations, deciding that the registrant's conduct amounted to misconduct and found that there was an impairment in the registrant's fitness to practice due to the breach of confidentiality and breach of trust. The registrant's actions had seriously undermined the confidence in the profession. They accepted the registrant's request to be removed from the register, noting that the registrant had retired from the profession, and also issued a written warning. The Committee judged that these measures taken together were the proportionate sanction and that a lesser sanction would not sufficiently protect the public, due to the seriousness of the breach involving a vulnerable client. Additionally, they found that it was in the public interest and proportionate to authorise publication of the register removal in the registrant's name - Mr John Ryan is removed from the register with effect 23 November 2021.