Essex County Council social worker falsified care records
A social worker who falsified records whilst working with vulnerable children has been suspended.
Andrew Mills worked for Essex County Council's children in care team when he made the "massive error of judgement".
A disciplinary panel heard he falsely claimed to have visited a child in care and created a false assessment of a second child's grandmother.
The hearing was told Mr Mills accepted his actions could "have had serious consequences".
It is understood he no longer works for the county council.
Linda Summers, chairman of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) panel, said: "It is clear that, at the relevant time, the registrant's fitness to practice was impaired.
"He did, however, show some element of insight in accepting, in interview, that his misconduct could have had serious consequences and amounted to a massive error of judgement."
Mr Mills was unable to explain his actions, the hearing heard.
He has been suspended from the HCPC's register for 12 months.
Essex County Council said it took safeguarding and the conduct of staff "extremely seriously".
"When learning of recorded visits that had not taken place, Mr Mills was immediately suspended and the HCPC were alerted," a spokeswoman said.
"Through the disciplinary investigation it became evident that he had completed a viability assessment, which was submitted to court, which we considered to be inaccurate and misleading.
"The court were notified of this and the family member was reassessed by a different worker."