Care worker given assault warning
A former support worker at a care home in Troon has avoided being struck off over an assault conviction.
Graham Connor, who worked at Sun Court Nursing Home in Crosbie Place, faced four allegations during a Scottish Social Services Council ( SSSC) hearing in Dundee.
He had been convicted of assault by repeatedly punching and kicking a man on the face and body in Ayr last September.
Connor, 27, who had worked in the care industry since 2014, was also convicted of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner and recklessly destroying property by kicking a TV. He had denied the allegations.
He was fined £ 500 in court and told to pay his victim £ 250 in compensation.
As a result of his convictions the industry regulator held a fitness to practise hearing.
The panel was told it was Connor’s position that at the time he was in an “abusive and controlling” relationship and that his partner was a “jealous, moody racist”.
It was also claimed that Connor’s victim had previously assaulted him by strangling him.
Connor had said that his actions were the result of a controlling relationship and that he acted in self- defence as he had been put in fear of his life.
After the incident he notifed the SSSC and his employer about the charges and convictions.
He continued to work in the care home until a temporary suspension order came into force in February.
He did not attend the panel hearing because he became concerned that the process was not going to be fair and that he was going to be tried again for the offences of which he was convicted.
The hearing was told that a testimony from Connor’s most recent manager was “entirely positive”.
The SSSC placed a warning on his record for three years.
A written judgement said: “The panel decided that the appropriate disposal would be a warning and conditions.
“The warning would serve the public interest by marking the unacceptability of your behaviour.
“It would remind you to stay out of situations that might result in confrontation. The panel thinks that conditions are needed in order to make you reflect on what happened and why it was behaviour that, although outside work, affects social services workers as a whole and the SSSC.”
It added: “It is now for you, with the assistance of the training and development department of SSSC, to complete a satisfactory reflective account.
“We consider that your reflective account would be more effective if it shows that you have accepted the sheriff’s decision and are moving on.”
Connor no longer works in the care industry.