Kid of 12’s life put in danger by ‘negligent’ guardian but he’s allowed to keep his job
A CARER has been rapped by watchdogs after driving an autistic boy through a safari park lion’s den with the car windows down. Adam Swift was told the 12-year-old boy could have been killed due to the “negligent and reckless” conduct. Care watchdogs the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said the boy had been placed at “acute risk of harm” from the “dangerous animals” in the park. But Swift has kept his job, despite the incident at Blair Drummond Safari Park, near Stirling, last April. Swift was working as a residential care worker for Paisley-based providers Spark of Genius when he drove the autistic boy through the lion enclosure without checking the windows were closed. A warden stopped Swift’s BY SALLY HIND & CALUM WILSON car and ordered him to pull over and close the windows.
A report from the SSSC said Swift had failed to carry out the proper risk assessments prior to the trip and said his actions “could have caused potentially serious harm or death”.
However, after a disciplinary hearing, they decided just to caution Swift. The warning will stay on his registration for 12 months.
The SSSC report said: “You have indicated that you intend to learn from your mistake and move forward in a positive manner. There is no information to suggest that you have behaved in a similar manner before.
“There have been no further concerns with your practice since this incident came to light.
“However, a reasonable person, in possession of all the facts, would consider the reputation of the profession to be damaged if no action were to be taken. There is a need to uphold and reaffirm proper standards of conduct and behaviour.
“Your behaviour was reckless and fell well below the standards expected of a social services worker.”
Spark of Genius managing director Zak McIlhargey said: “Adam is still with us. It was our concerns and disciplinary procedure which highlighted this to the SSSC. “It was a serious incident and the SSSC has decided that Adam is still fit to practice. He has an umblemished record apart from this.”