A West Lothian carer has been struck off after failing in their duties to look after a service user, including hitting them, threatening them with violence, and not cleaning them after a bowel movement.
Paul Ferguson was working within a residential child care agency for Randstad Public Services Ltd at C-Change Scotland in November 2020 when the incident occurred.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) decided that there was sufficient evidence to prove that the aforementioned incidents did occur, which left one service user in distress.
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The council noted that on November 19, 2020, Ferguson, while providing person care to the service user in their own home, refused to wipe the person after he had a bowel movement.
He also told the man: "Clean your own arse, and see this job, you shove this up your arse as well. This is my last shift, I'm not coming back," or words to that effect.
After this, Ferguson hit the service user's head and left ear, and after the individual said he would get his brother, Ferguson too said he would get his own brothers around to deal with him.
The council decided that due to Ferguson's actions, he frightened the service user, as well as noting that he had showered the individual, when he had not.
The decision for Ferguson's removal from the service noted that his behaviour was very serious and fell far below the standard that is expected as a social service worker.
It continued: "Hitting AA, threatening him, frightening him and refusing to provide personal care was abusive behaviour and a serious breach of trust placed in you as a social service worker. Social service workers need to be truthful, open, honest and trustworthy. You recorded in AA’s log that you showered AA when you had not.
"Dishonesty falls short of what is expected of social service workers. We need to find your fitness to practise impaired to protect the public because we think you will repeat this type of behaviour. You have not said sorry, shown any regret or insight into your behaviour. Your behaviour violates the fundamental tenets of the profession and raises concerns over your values.
"If you did repeat the behaviour, you would place other service users at risk of harm. The public would be concerned about you working with vulnerable people. It is important that the SSSC upholds proper standards of conduct and behaviour. We need to find your fitness to practise impaired, so the public know that the SSSC is an effective regulator."
It is understood that Ferguson was relatively experienced within the care setting before the incident occurred, having three years experience. The council said that his actions caused physical and emotional harm to the service user and that it was undoubtedly deliberate.
