A social care worker has avoided being struck off following two incidents while he was working for a company in Wishaw.
James Queen was given a warning which will stay on his registration for two years following the decision by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
In February last year, while employed as a community living assistant by Capability Scotland at Wishaw supported living service – Care at Home in Wishaw, Mr Queen left a service user’s emergency medication in a vehicle overnight and failed to complete night time checks in relation to medication.
Then in early May of the same year, Mr Queen drove to work while under the influence of alcohol and attended a service user’s home to begin his shift while under the influence of alcohol.
The SSSC report states: “You (Mr Queen) left a service user’s medication and documentation in their vehicle overnight. You failed to complete night time checks in relation to medication and finances.
“This type of behaviour demonstrates a failure to be reliable and dependable and is not an example of working in a safe and effective way.
“If the service user had required medication overnight, the medication would not have been easy to access or give to. This could put them at a serious risk of harm.
“Your behaviour is also a failure to maintain clear, accurate and up to date records. Records should be maintained properly so that other members of staff know what medication has been administered to service users and when."
The report continued: “You also drove to work while under the influence of alcohol and attended a service user’s home while under the influence.
“Your behaviour put yourself, other road users and the service user at a risk of harm. The behaviour overall is serious. It carried a risk of harm to vulnerable people who were relying on you for care and support, particularly those who take medication and those who require care at home.
“Your behaviour occurred on two separate occasions within a short period. You have not shown the SSSC any remorse for your actions even though you were given the opportunity to do so.
“There is a risk that your behaviour could be repeated in future, and if it was, this would put service users at a risk of harm.”
The report states that Mr Queen has not returned to work in the social services profession and thus has not had the opportunity to show good practice since the incident.
Lanarkshire Live understands Capability Scotland insisted it had fulfilled all of its statutory obligations while Mr Queen was reported to the authorities immediately.
A Capability Scotland spokesperson said: “We don’t comment on individual staffing matters. The individual has not been an employee with, and no longer works at, Capability Scotland from May 2021.”
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