Nursery worker struck off for being ‘hot headed’

Social Services panel hears carer shouted at and grabbed youngsters

The behaviour of a Fife nursery worker who shouted at and grabbed young children was described as “deliberate and reckless” as she was struck off the register.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said “hot headed” Paula McKinnon was not fit to work in the day care of children after incidents involving four toddlers at Little Einsteins nursery in Kirkcaldy.

A panel found Ms McKinnon guilty of misconduct after a hearing which took place last month.

The majority of the panel found all but one of the allegations against the nursery worker to have been proved.

While taking a two-year-old child to the toilet on or around August 17, 2017, Ms McKinnon grabbed the youngster by the arm.

She also shouted “sit down” or words to that effect at another child, a twoyear-old boy, and grabbed him by both arms while putting on his shoes.

On a date prior to September 2016, Ms McKinnon put a child into a high chair “in a rough manner” and said words to the effect of “for goodness sake, this is ridiculous”.

And on a date prior to August 2017, she shouted at and grabbed a child by the arm.

The SSSC said: “The panel considered all the facts and the evidence.

“They took into account your behaviour towards four very young children over four separate days and that this was not a “one off” incident.

“There was a clear pattern of behaviour. It was shown that you were volatile and hot headed on more than one occasion, not only with children but staff members.”

Ms McKinnon did not attend the hearing and was not represented.

The panel decided to impose a removal order taking into account the seriousness of the allegations, her “unacceptable behaviour and lack of remediation”.

A SSSC solicitor presenting the case to the panel said Ms McKinnon had shown “no remorse”.

In the decision letter, the SSSC said: “The presenter submitted that your behaviour proved that you have values that were not consistent with the profession, if the behaviour was repeated there was continued risk of harm to service users.

“A finding of impairment was necessary to protect the public and in the public interest.”

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A finding of impairment was necessary... and in the public interest. SSSC PANEL DECISION