A Midlothian nursery support worker has been given a three-year warning for slapping a child on the hand.
Tanya Hunter, while employed by Midlothian Council as a nursery support worker in Bonnyrigg, struck a child and subsequently caused them distress, according to a report from the Scottish Social Services Council.
Hunter has now been given a 36-month warning period on her registration following a hearing by the SSSC. The incident occurred in October 2022, with the report citing Hunter as an "experienced" employee.
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The social services council also note that following the incident, Hunter acknowledged a degree of regret and wrongdoing, having complied with the investigation.
The report says: "Social service workers are expected to meet relevant standards of practice and work in a lawful safe and effective way. Social service workers must not abuse, neglect or harm people who use services and put them at unnecessary risk harm.
"They are expected to be reliable and dependable and not behave in a way which would call into question their suitability to work in social services. While providing care for children you slapped child AA on the left hand which caused distress to the child.
"Your behaviour is highly serious. You are an experienced registered social service worker, who has been registered with the SSSC since 2014 and you should have been well aware of the standards of conduct expected of you. Service users are entitled to feel safe and confident that social care workers can remain in control of their behaviour and not abuse or harm service users."
The report concluded by noting how Hunter, before the incident, had an unblemished record in social care and there is no pattern of concerning behaviour.
Midlothian Council confirmed that Ms Hunter is no longer in their employment.
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