A assist employee who drank on the job at a care residence – after which uploaded a video to Snapchat – has been banned from working within the business.
Lawrie Hutchison has been struck off by Scotland’s care watchdog for the misconduct.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) mentioned the unhealthy behaviour amounted to an “abuse of trust” as Hutchison was on an evening shift and meant to be “responsible and dependable”.
In a written ruling revealed on Wednesday, the SSSC mentioned: “By drinking alcohol on shift, you placed vulnerable residents in your care at unnecessary risk of harm.
“This kind of behaviour calls into query your reliability and dependability to look after these most weak who use providers.
“Your actions could have had significant consequences had any service users been exposed to your behaviour and this could have placed them at risk of harm.
“This behaviour falls far beneath the requirements anticipated of social service employees and calls into query your judgement and character.”
The SSSC mentioned the video posted on Snapchat, whereas Hutchison was drunk, may have been seen by colleagues or members of the general public – bringing the care residence into disrepute.
The incident occurred in August 2022 whereas Hutchison was working at Mossview Care Home in Lochgelly, Fife.
Although no hurt was induced to residents, the SSSC dominated that Hutchison’s health to practise was impaired.
A colleague was mentioned to have supplied optimistic info on Hutchison’s work and relationship with residents.
The SSSC famous that it gave the impression to be an remoted incident, however mentioned Hutchison failed to interact with its investigation.
The watchdog added: “You have not provided any explanation for your behaviour, demonstrated insight into this or provided any reassurance that this will not be repeated.
“You haven’t labored within the care sector since this incident. In the circumstances, we will solely conclude that there’s a danger of this kind of behaviour being repeated.
“If this were repeated, residents could be placed at direct risk of harm and therefore there is a need to protect the public and uphold clear standards of conduct and practice.”
In conclusion, the SSSC mentioned a removing order was the “most appropriate sanction” to keep up the “continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession”.
The removing order got here into impact on Wednesday.
Source: information.sky.com”