Sacked council manager faces misconduct hearing

ONE of the most senior managers in a council’s children’s services department allegedly made a series of lurid and inappropriate comments to several junior female colleagues and is now facing a misconduct hearing.

Douglas Adams was assistant director of children’s services at Barnsley Council when he allegedly made the comments between 2005 and 2006. He has already been dismissed from the authority for gross misconduct.

The complaints against Mr Adams, a registered social worker, relate to four separate women and the misconduct hearing will take place before the General Social Care Council.

If the allegation of misconduct is upheld, the tribunal has a series of options which could including striking him off the register.

Other sanctions would include a suspension of up to two years or an admonishment, or caution, which would remain in place for up to five years..

It is understood that Mr Adams, currently living in Nottingham, is not employed as a social worker at present. He has not indicated that he intends to attend the hearing.

A Barnsley Council spokesman said: “Mr D Adams was summarily dismissed for gross misconduct in August 2006. We have no further comment to make.”