I know this is going to make me sound like a Daily Mail reader, but I'm going to have a real rant about something I read this morning. There was I, calmly reading The Times, when an article on page 25 had me all but spit out my coffee .... the title may give you a clue: "Council employed social worker who hired hitman."
To quote: "Lynda Barnes was hired by Bath and North East Somerset Council after giving a 'highly sanitised' version of events that led to her receiving a two-year suspended jail sentence for conspiracy to murder."
Barnes' checkered past only came to light during an unrelated court case, when she later tried to convince a colleague to lie under oath.
The council has since admitted to making a mistake in hiring Barnes. I'd say it was a bit more of a mistake. And particularly in a social work role. Not only do social workers have almost unparalleled access to the vulnerable, but they are also one of the most beleagured professions in the country - surely they should be recruited with especial care. And didn't the council run a criminal records bureau (CRB) check on Barnes?
