An Edinburgh carer has had a 24-month warning placed on her registration for comments she made to a colleague while restraining a child in her care.
Debbie Paterson, a residential child care worker in Edinburgh, had the warning placed on her registration by the Scottish Social Services Council on Wednesday, July 15.
During the hearing, a number of issues were flagged that found her fitness to practise impaired. In particular, telling a colleague that “it’s fine, she will pass out and wake up again” when told by a colleague that the child couldn’t breathe while being restrained.
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The child in question is a 15-year-old with a history of aggression who was kept anonymous during the hearing.
The hearing detailed various issues with Debbie’s care of the 15 year old. In particular, when trying to conduct a “safe hold” on the child, Debbie was reported as saying “put her on her front she does not like that”.
When informed that the child's hands were turning white as a result of the restraint, Debbie is reported as saying “well she needs to stop struggling”.
And she was also reported as saying that “it’s fine, she will pass out and wake up again” when trying to conduct a safe hold.
The hearing said: “You failed to treat AA with respect and dignity when AA was in crisis. You knew that AA didn’t like to be placed on her front during holds but you stated on two occasions that she should be placed on her front. This placed AA at a risk of physical and emotional harm.
“By saying “it’s fine she will pass out and wake up again” when your colleague told you AA couldn’t breathe, you demonstrated a lack of regard for AA’s health and wellbeing.
“This comment was inappropriate and suggests values that are incompatible with the role of a residential childcare worker. You need to provide support to young people and to keep them safe and well at all times. Your actions fell below the standards of practice expected of you and has raised concerns about your ability to respond to challenging situations in the future.”
