A social worker who allegedly advertised herself as an escort will become the first to appear before the professions new standards watchdog today.

The woman, who has not been named but is from County Durham, is facing a General Social Care Council (GSCC) conduct panel.

The panel is the first to sit since responsibility for regulating social workers passed to the new body.

A panel of between three and five members, which will have a majority of lay members, will hear the case against the woman, from Darlington.

She is accused of committing misconduct and breaching the General Social Care Councils code of practice by advertising herself as an escort.

The hearing in Newcastle is expected to last three days.

A GSCC conduct committee has the power to decide no further action should be taken, to issue a caution or suspension It can remove a social worker from the social care register altogether if members feel the transgression is serious enough.

If disciplined, the social worker has 28 days to appeal to the independent Care Standards Tribunal for a review of the decision.

A spokeswoman for the GSCC said: Being registered means that all social workers are accountable for their conduct and practice.

Action can be taken against any social worker where they have breached the code of practice and where it is considered that they are no longer suitable to be a registered social worker.

Such decisions, which are not taken lightly, are taken to protect the public interests and those of the 1.5 million people who use social care services.