Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
School worker struck off after terrifying boy
A children’s worker at an Airdrie school left a young boy terrified after physically and verbally abusing him.
James Lappin was employed at St Philip’s independent school, which provides education for vulnerable youngsters from across the country.
He left a boy, known only as AA, terrified after subjecting him to physical and verbal abuse in a classroom. Lappin has now been struck off.
Lappin put his hand over the boy’s mouth and nose and threatened to call the police before telling him, ‘you wee b ***** d’.
He was asked to leave the room by horrified colleagues, but returned and continued to shout and swear at the youngster during the incident last March.
The experienced residential child care worker was reported to bosses and was hauled before a hearing of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
A panel ruled Lappin posed
a high risk of repeating his behaviour and had no option but to ban him from the profession.
He took legal advice during the hearing and later admitted the facts of the case, before accepting the decision.
In a written ruling, the SSSC said: “Placing your hand over the young person’s nose and mouth, shouting at him and calling him a ‘wee b ***** d’, and threatening to report him to the police was both physically and
verbally abusive behaviour.
“The young person should be able to trust that the adults caring for him will respond appropriately when he is in a crisis situation.
“The young person requires to be calmed and reassured. Instead, you shouted, swore, threatened him and placed your hand over his nose and mouth.
“This behaviour involved a loss of self-control and a display of aggressive behaviour.
“This behaviour caused, or was likely to cause, physical and emotional harm and an escalation of the situation which could have led to a greater risk of harm to the young person.
“This was an isolated incidence however, when asked by colleagues to leave the room, you returned a few minutes later and continued to shout and swear at the young person. There has been no remediation.
“Given the lack of any insight, regret or remorse the SSSC has concluded that the risk of similar behaviour being repeated is high.”
They added: “The SSSC considers that a removal order is the most appropriate sanction as it is both necessary and justified in the public interest and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession.”