SSSC issue warning to childcare worker
A Renfrewshire childcare worker has been given a warning after he failed to carry out checks on vulnerable youngsters.
Senior practitioner Kieran Lawler was working at a secure unit for young people in Bishopton when he did not carry out the required number of observations on young people on or around December 17, 2022.
Lawler then falsely recorded he had completed the observations when this was not the case.
An investigation by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) found Lawler failed to check in on six children between 8am and 1.15pm while responsible for their care and, as a result, he “breached the trust” placed in him as a social service worker.
The SSSC report revealed Lawler only checked in on one child five times when they should have had 59 checks in the period.
The child, referred to in the report as ‘FF’, only arrived at the Bishopton facility the night prior.
The watchdog’s report stated his current level of risk required him to be assessed before he could be moved from five to 15-minute observations.
Lawler’s behaviour was described by the watchdog as having “the potential to cause emotional and physical harm to the young people in his care”.
On December 17, 2022, Lawler and a colleague were “equally responsible” for carrying out the requisite observations on the six young people in their locked bedrooms within the secure care facility.
The report stated: “Failure to complete the correct number of observations or take steps to see that they were completed, had the potential to cause emotional and physical harm to the young people in your care.”
The probe also discovered that Lawler only observed child ‘AA’ nine times when there should have been 21 checks.
Child ‘BB’ was only observed seven times when there should have been 22 occasions.
Child ‘CC’ was visited 10 times – only half of their requirement.
Child ‘DD’ was observed five times when 23 checks should have been carried out and child ‘EE’ should have received 16 observations but was only checked six times.
The SSSC stated that Lawler’s failures would cause concern to the public and said in its report: “The public would be concerned by a senior practitioner having failed to carry out a significant number of observations on young people in a secure care environment.
“Young people are placed in secure care to ensure their safety because they are considered a risk to themselves and/or others.
“It is therefore crucial that the public have confidence that measures put in place to safeguard them are prioritised and implemented.
“The behaviour needs to be marked as unacceptable to uphold public confidence in the profession and the reputation of the SSSC as regulator.”
The investigation has now resulted in a warning being placed on Lawler’s registration for nine months.
Lawler didn’t engage with the SSSC investigation which it states was a “factor of concern”.
But factors in his favour when the panel made its final decision to impose the warning sanction included he had a good work history with no previous adverse findings made against him by the SSSC; that he expressed remorse and has shown good insight; he has fully engaged with a performance plan to improve his practice; and his employer has given a positive report on his progress and that the behaviour happened approximately 14 months ago and has not been repeated.
The notice came into effect on March 16.