An Ayrshire residential child care worker has been sanctioned by the industry regulator for putting a young person at danger of emotional injury.
Charles Thom failed to follow his employer’s instructions for one-on-one supervision of a young kid.
Thom was accused of failing to perform his care obligations on or about January 31, 2023, while working as a residential child care worker at a Cumnock facility.
The Scottish Social Service Council (SSSC), the industry regulator, has severely censored details about the case and placed a condition on Thom’s registration.
The regulator stated that Thom’s fitness to practise was ‘impaired,’ and that his conduct put a young person, known only as ‘AA,’ at danger of emotional injury.
According to an excerpt from the SSSC study, “Those who use services, their families, and the general public rightfully expect that social service workers will act in the best interests of those who use services and will not expose them to unnecessary risk of physical or emotional harm.
While your acts were not malicious, a reasonable person would expect a regulating body like the SSSC to take steps to prevent a recurrence of the activity. This is vital to maintain correct standards of care, to protect the safety and well-being of those who utilise services, and to avoid putting yourself or others in vulnerable situations in the future.
Thom was deemed to have co-operated fully with the SSSC investigation, but he failed to follow his employer’s direction not to deliver 1:1 care with the young person or take the opportunity to “reinforce professional boundaries.
The SSSC further stated, “Your actions fall short of the standards expected of Residential Child Care Workers and reflect poorly upon you, your employer, and the wider social services profession.
