Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Care worker faces hearing over attack
A TAYSIDE care worker is to face a disciplinary hearing after failing to tell her employers she was convicted of kicking a young child repeatedly in the face.
Amanda Fuller will face a Fitness to Practise Panel impairment hearing at Dundee’s Compass House on April 9 and 10 in front of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
Ms Fuller, 32, was employed by HC-One Healthcare and working as a support worker in a care home service for adults, when criminal charges were brought against her.
She stood trial at Perth Sheriff Court on March 7 last year, to face the allegations of assault against a child, and was subsequently found guilty.
At sentencing on May 10, Fuller had a community payback order imposed at Perth Sheriff Court, which involved 12 months of supervision and 90 hours of unpaid work.
She now faces a possible removal order on her registration on the Register of Social Workers following the conviction coming to light.
The SSSC hearing report states: “The allegation against you is that, on or around March 7,2017, whilst employed by HC-One Limited as a care assistant, you were convicted of assault to injury of a child at Perth Sheriff Court.”
Ms Fuller was convicted of having assaulted a child on July 7 2016, at an address in Perth, by repeatedly kicking the youngster on the head to their injury.
The report adds: “If the worker is not fit to practise – their fitness to practise is impaired – a sanction can be placed on their registration.”
A spokesman for the care home said: “The health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone we look after are our highest priorities and we will always act in their best interest.
“We were shocked and saddened by the former member of staff’s behaviour, which goes against everything we stand for as an organisation.
“As soon as we were informed of this incident, we took immediate action to suspend the staff member concerned and terminated their employment once the police had concluded the investigation.
“This case is in no way representative of the care provided at the home, and we remain committed to ensuring that all our staff uphold the high standards of care that residents expect and deserve.”
Ms Fuller could not be contacted for comment.