Clydebank carer struck off for headbutting child

ACLYDEBA N K c a r er headbutted a youngster who was left with a broken nose. Gregory Paul lashed out while employed as a residential childcare worker after the youngster, known as AA, headbutted him.

The support worker retaliated by pausing before headbutting them back, “contributing or causing” a serious injury.

He also picked up AA by the top of their legs and forcefully threw them to the ground.

The Scottish Social Services Council ( SSSC) has now removed Paul from the register and slammed his actions.

The report said: “Social service workers must not abuse or neglect people who use services.

“You have headbutted a young person and picked them up by the top of their legs and forcefully thrown them to the ground in response to them displaying physically challenging behaviour towards you. Although challenging situations can be difficult to manage, this behaviour is physical abuse and falls below the standards expected of social service workers.

“These actions caused or contributed to the service user sustaining a significant injury, namely a broken nose. Responding to challenging behaviour in this manner raises significant concerns about your underlying values and violates fundamental principles of the profession.

“This behaviour raises serious questions about your suitability to work in social services.”

Paul has since reflected on the incident and the consequences of his behaviour.

He claimed he would act differently in the future and apologised.

The support worker had no previous history with the SSSC and had demonstrated a sustained period of prolonged good practice prior to these matters.

However his actions, on or around February 2, 2021, were “aggressive and physically abusive”, forcing the

SSSC to remove him from the register. The SSSC report continued: “You have demonstrated a disregard and contempt for the rights and dignity of a young person in your care.

“It is evident that you have since demonstrated insight, remorse and regret in relation to these matters, further you have no previous history with SSSC and have a previous period of prolonged good practice evident. We have also received numerous positive references in respect to your practice.

“However, your behaviour is at the most serious end of the spectrum meaning that it is difficult for SSSC to take any assurances that the behaviour would not be repeated in similar circumstances.

“Although the behaviour is an isolated incident, the behaviour demonstrated a marked and serious loss of self- control.

“Action requires to be taken to protect the welfare and wellbeing of service users and to mark the seriousness of the behaviour.”