A social worker involved in the care of murdered Fife toddler Liam Fee has been found guilty of a catalogue of misconduct charges.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) upheld 12 of 13 charges against Lesley Bate involving 15 children during her time at Fife Council.

The SSSC conduct sub-committee returned its verdict on Tuesday, saying while she may not have intended to harm the children, her actions exposed them to “unnecessary risk of harm”.

The panel found Ms Bate’s failings amounted to neglect and her behaviour was well below the standards of practice expected of a registered social worker.

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A week-long hearing at the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) in Dundee earlier this month heard evidence from Ms Bate’s former colleagues.

The three-person panel was told Ms Bate was “disorganised and chaotic”.

It also heard the team responsible for two-year-old Liam Fee’s case was plagued by infighting and divided into two camps.

Ms Bate, 60, did not attend the hearing, which examined 13 allegations.

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Liam’s case was allocated to her in January 2013 after allegations he had been seen by his childminder covered in bruises.

Weeks later it was reported he had a sore neck, with his mother Rachel Trelfa or Fee and civil partner Nyomi Fee lying to social workers that he had been taken to see a GP about it.

Ms Bate was alleged to have failed to follow up on the allegations, leading to the case “falling off the radar”.

His mother and her partner were later convicted of murdering the two-year-old in March 2014.

The hearing was told she put the children “at unnecessary risk” by neglecting her duties.

Ms Bate has “relinquished” her SSSC registration but does not admit any wrongdoing in relation to the charges.

The panel will now consider which sanctions to take against Ms Bate, who was not represented at the misconduct hearing.