A Midlothian child support worker has been given a two-year warning on her registration after restraining a child against their wishes and forcing them to enter a safe space.
After a hearing with the Scottish Social Services Council, Courtney McDonald was found to have also not reported an incident involving a child being hit and pushed, which the council ruled was against standard practice and falls well below what is expected of a child support worker.
The incidents took place in June 2021 while McDonald was under the employment of Loanhead After School Club. The hearing noted that, along with a colleague, McDonald restrained a child by their wrists and force them into a safe space against their wishes.
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McDonald also failed to either report or intervene when the same colleague slapped a child's arm and forcibly pushed their face. The council therefore enforced a 24-month warning period, noting that although she had done wrong, McDonald showed clear remorse and cooperated with their investigation into the incident.
McDonald had been situated at her place of work for seven months before these incidents took place, as the SSSC said: "Social service workers must meet relevant standards of practice, work in a lawful, safe and effective way and, as far as is possible, protect vulnerable children in their care from risk of harm.
"You inappropriately restrained a child and forced AA to enter a safe space against their wishes. These actions were contrary to your employer’s Team Teach training and represented a breach of your position of trust. Further you failed to intervene or report observing your colleague slapping AA and forcibly pushing AA’s face. Your actions materially contributed to the child concerned experiencing emotional harm and placed the child at risk of physical harm.
"On the face of it, the behaviour points to a concern about your values. However, taking account of all information held, we consider that your actions were more a serious lapse of judgment and that you were following the lead of a more experienced and senior colleague."
They added that factors of concern for imposing the 24-month warning were that McDonald caused emotional harm and risk of physical harm, as well as her behaviour directly relating to her employment in an early year setting and the care of vulnerable children.
However, factors in her favour were the fact that McDonald showed clear insight and remorse for her actions, as well as accepting responsibility and also had a good previous history. The incident happened over a year ago, and there have been no concerns of repeat behaviour since then.
Loanhead After School Club has been approached for comment.
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