An Ayrshire-based support worker at a care at home service has been struck off the register after being convicted in court of assault and behaving in a threatening manner.
Kirsty Wallace was this week told she can no longer work in the care sector following her conviction at Hamilton Sheriff Court in South Lanarkshire.
Industry regulator the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said Wallace had demonstrated a ‘loss of self control’ and that her behaviour was “fundamentally incompatible” with continuing registration.
Wallace, of Kilmarnock, was convicted of assault at Hamilton Sheriff Court in September 2021 with the offences dating back to April of that year.
Walllace, according to the SSSC, struggled with her victim, behaved in a threatening or abusive manner, refused to leave a premises when requested to do and she shouted, swore, kicked and threw items at a door.
And the SSSC said her behaviour at the time meant her fitness to practise was “impaired”. Ayrshire Live can reveal that Wallace was not subject to suspension during the SSSC's fitness to practise investigation.
An extract from the SSSC investigation said: “Social service workers must not put other people at unnecessary risk or behave, while inside or outside of work, in a way which would call their suitability to work in social services into question.”
They said Wallace’s convictions were “serious” and provided evidence of “intentional behaviour” that caused “physical and emotional harm” to a person known to her.
The report goes on: “Due to the nature of your [Wallace’s] convictions, there are ongoing public protection concerns. You [Wallace] have provided no evidence of any insight, regret or remorse from which assurances can be drawn that the behaviour is remediable.
“Conduct of this nature raises serious and fundamental questions about your values and with the information that we hold, we have assessed that there is a risk that your behaviour may be repeated in the future.”
Addressing their factors of concern the SSSC told Wallace: “Your convictions demonstrate a loss of self-control and serious underlying attitudinal and values issues which are not easily remediable.
"You have not engaged with the SSSC investigation nor demonstrated any insight, regret or remorse in relation to your actions.
“A suspension order would not be appropriate as your behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with continuing registration and there is no evidence a period of suspension would allow you to remedy this.”
The report adds: “The SSSC considers a removal order is the most appropriate sanction. It is both necessary and justified in the public interest and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession.”
Read next:
- Hugh Grant stuns diners at Ayrshire restaurant after arriving in town
- New parking restrictions at Ayrshire retail park with £100 fine warning issued
- Ayrshire takeaways in 'sad copycat' war of words over logo and brand colours
- Retired Ayrshire teacher sheds six stone after 'challenging herself'
- 'Horrendous' Ayr High Street flats plan approved as local makes 'torture' comparison
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines –sign up to our free daily newsletter
