Tom Orpin-Massey was instructed by Kingsley Napley to represent the HCPC in a case brought against a social worker, Mrs T, who was accused of making a grossly inappropriate and racist comment to a colleague in an exchange about making a cup of tea. Asked how Mrs T would like her tea made by a colleague, Mrs T replied that she would like it "n****r brown" in colour. the registrant was insistent, both to the employer and before the conduct and Competence Committee, that such a term was not racist and was commonly used in the textile industry, in which she had worked some years earlier.

After cross-examination of the registrant and closing submissions the panel found that the term was inappropriate and racist, amounted to misconduct, and that the registrant's fitness to practice was impaired. A determination on sanction was adjourned.

For press reports, please see:

http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/social-worker-sacked-racist-coffee-colour-comment/story-28150126-detail/story.html

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/460335/Social-worker-racist-coffee-comment-tribunal

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11987297/Social-worker-who-used-N-word-to-describe-strength-of-coffee-avoids-being-struck-off.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3312134/Social-worker-lost-job-asking-coffee-n-brown-avoids-struck-panel-accept-talking-hot-drink.html