Nursery worker is accused of verbally abusing youngsters

Carer also faces allegations that she manhandled kids

A nursery worker could be rapped over claims she verbally abused children.

Jenna Kincaid is accused of making inappropriate comments to tots at Woodlands Day Nursery.

She also faces allegations that she manhandled youngsters while on shift at the centre in Houston. Kincaid is facing the accusat i o n s at a Scottish Social Services Council ( SSSC) disciplinary hearing.

A panel report stated: “While employed as a nursery practitioner by R McLucas, R A McLucas and A Thomson, a partnership at Woodlands Day Nursery, in Johnstone, you allegedly behaved inappropriately at work by verbally abusing children and handling them forcefully.

“A worker is fit to practise if they meet the standards of character, conduct and competence necessary for them to do their job safely and effectively with particular regard to the code of practice for social service workers and the code of practice for employers of social service workers.”

Kincaid will face the claims at a hearing in Dundee next week.

The watchdog has the power to strike staff off if the allegations are proved.

It may also decide to endorse registry records with warnings and order corrective training.

The panel also has the power to dismiss claims and order no sanction.

A decision will be made at the end of a four-day investigation.

Woodlands Day Nursery was opened in 1992.

It looks after children aged up to five and insists its aim is provide a service of the “highest quality”.

Bosses say tots will be in the care of qualified staff at all times.

A Care Inspectorate assessment at the nursery two years ago found the quality of service ‘good’ and staffing as ‘adequate’.

It praised workers for being “kind” and “supportive” and insisted they were “committed to providing a positive nursery experience”.

Parents also praised staff and told how they trusted them to care for their children.

A decision on the hearing is expected later this month.