A Scots support worker has been struck off by a care watchdog after threatening to take a vulnerable service user “down to play tig with the buses”. Clark Findlay was found to have verbally and physically abused two people he was meant to be caring for while employed by Glasgow-based charity Quarriers in December 2021.
While delivering personal care to a woman, referred to as AA, the 46-year-old pushed her hand away with force. He also shouted “get aff me” and said “you’re f****** me off now” while assisting her.
He went on to put a remote control in her mouth, telling her to “shut up” and that she was “p****** me off the day”. During the same shift, Findlay, from Clydebank, issued the chilling threat to another vulnerable person, referred to as BB.
He said “any more of your s*** I’ll take you down to play tig with the buses” or words to that effect. The Scottish Social Service Council (SSSC) hauled him before a panel who decided that his fitness to practise was impaired as a result of his misconduct.
They found that his actions were a “misuse of power” that was incompatible with working in the care sector.
In a decision notice, the watchdog said: “Your behaviour caused, or was likely to cause AA and BB to feel distress and fear and placed AA and BB at risk of emotional harm in a place where AA and BB should have felt at home, knowing they are cared for, valued and treated with respect and dignity.
“Abusive behaviour by a social service worker is a breach of the trust and confidence placed in social service workers by service users, their families and the wider public.
“Your behaviour is a misuse of the power and position placed in social service workers, while also placing service users at risk of harm. Your behaviour involves acts by you which fall far short of the standard of conduct expected of a worker registered with the SSSC.
“Your behaviour calls into question your integrity and values. You have shown on multiple occasions a complete lack of respect towards service users in your care. There was also a risk of AA choking.
“Although the behaviour all happened on one shift, it involved multiple incidents of verbal and physical abuse. As such, the SSSC considers that there has been a pattern of behaviour.”
They added: “You have accepted some of your behaviour was wrong, while denying the physical abuse. There is little evidence of any real remediation or insight.
“In any event, this type of behaviour is difficult to remedy as it indicates significant values and attitudinal issues. The SSSC considers that the risk of repetition is high. There are ongoing public protection concerns.
“Abuse of a service user is on the higher end of the scale of seriousness. Any repeat of the behaviour would be extremely serious as a result.” Findlay’s name was removed from the register on November 12. He no longer works for the support service.
Quarriers is a social care charity which helps adults and children with physical or learning disabilities as well as families facing poverty and disadvantage.
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