A SCOTS social service worker has been stuck off the care register after headbutting and breaking a care user’s nose.
Gregory Paul was removed from the Scottish Social Service Council (SSSC) today (NOV 16) following an investigation into his behaviour towards the youngster.
Paul was employed as a residential child care worker in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, when he acted violently.
In response to being headbutted by the young person, he headbutted them in return, with the person’s nose being broken as a result.
Paul was also found to have picked the person up by the top of their legs and forcefully thrown them to the ground.
The SSSC decided to issue a removal order after finding his fitness to practise to be impaired.
The charges, whilst anonymising the young person, stated: “Social service workers must not abuse or neglect people who use services.
“You have headbutted a young person and picked them up by the top of their legs and forcefully thrown them to the ground in response to them displaying physically challenging behaviour towards you.
“Although challenging situations can be difficult to manage, this behaviour is physically abuse and falls below the standards expected of social service workers.
“These actions caused or contributed to the service user sustaining a significant injury, namely a broken nose.
“Responding to challenging behaviour in this manner raises significant concerns about your underlying values and violates fundamental tenant of the profession.
“This behaviour raises serious questions about your suitability to work in social services.”
“Your actions raise significant concerns regarding your underlying values and attitude. You have demonstrated a disregard and contempt for the rights and dignity of a young person in your care.”
They continued, saying: “It is evident that you have since demonstrated insight, remorse and regret in relation to these matters, further you have no previous history with SSSC and have a previous period of prolonged good practise evident.
“We have also received numerous positive references in respect to your practise.
“However, your behaviour is at the most serious end of the spectrum meaning that it is difficult for SSSC to take any assurances that the behaviour would not be repeated in similar circumstances.
“Although the behaviour is an isolated incident, the behaviour demonstrated a marked and serious loss of self control.
“The SSSC has a duty to uphold proper standards of conduct and behaviour from social care workers. Your behaviour would damage the public’s trust in the social care sector.”
On making their decision to remove Paul, the panel concluded that: “These matters all occurred in work while you were employed as a social services worker.
“Your behaviour was aggressive and physically abusive, your behaviour caused serious injury to a young person and that your behaviour displayed an abuse of power towards a young person in your care.
“You abused the trust placed in you by the young person’s family members, work colleagues and your employer at that time The behaviour is serious and raises significant concerns regarding your underlying values and attitude.
“There is no evidence that a period of suspension would allow you to remedy the cause of the impairment of your fitness to practise.”
The SSSC did note factors in Paul’s favour, stating that he had never shown any previous history with violence and up until this incident had demonstrated a sustained period of prolonged good practice.
They also noted that he had cooperated fully whilst the investigations had taken place and had apologised and shown remorse.
