17th January 2025
Dear Sir,
I write on behalf of the Irish Association of Social workers (IASW), the representative body for Social Workers in Ireland, in reference to the article published in the Irish Independent (14th January 2025), entitled: “How Boss of Tusla-funded firm presided over misuse of €700k.”
Social Workers provide an invaluable service in Ireland working with people in a range of difficult and challenging positions. They are in a position of trust and work in complex areas, taking into account the needs of the individuals, families and communities with whom they work. They do this with honesty and integrity and place human rights and social justice at the centre of all they do.
The subject of the news report was quoted as saying: “I was basically a social worker, I was relying on our accountants to be compliant.” This may have been a flippant or ‘off-the-cuff' remark at the time but serves to create a dangerous impression in readers’ minds.
Social Work is a legally registered profession and only those so registered may describe themselves as a ‘Social Worker.’ This is to protect the public from those who might misrepresent themselves as a registered professional. Social Workers must adhere to rigorous registration requirements and monitoring under CORU, including adherence to the relevant Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics.
As well as being contrary to the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, to wrongly use the title ‘Social Worker’ as quoted in the article also serves to grossly misrepresent the values, and code of practice employed by the Social Workers in this country and internationally.
We wish to assure the public that Mr Morrin is not registered as a Social Worker with CORU (the statutory body Regulating Health and Social Care Professionals) and therefore not entitled to use that designation for himself.
Thank you for publishing this and clarifying that Mr Morrin is not a CORU registered Social Worker.
Kind Regards,
Caroline Strong,
COO, IASW
Read the original Irish Indepedent Article Here.