A social worker who attacked a vulnerable youngster and shouted and swore in his face has been struck off.
Alan Clark gave the boy a double dose of anti-depressants and grabbed his face in a “claw-like grip” during numerous incidents while he worked as his carer at Peterhead.
He also refused to look after the child, left work early and deceived watchdogs by not admitting that he had been sacked.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said he had shown a blatant disregard for the youngster’s safety after leaving him in charge of an electricity supply, power hose and “motor vehicles”.
And they said he had “neglected” and let down a young person who had “every right” to be treated with dignity and respect by the person who was meant to protect him.
Clark has now been removed from the social work register indefinitely after he admitted a string of misconduct charges put to him by his former employer.
“A removal order is both necessary and justified to protect the public and public interest by ensuring the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession,” an SSSC panel ruled.
Clark admitted numerous charges relating to his conduct between March 2011 and Aril 2014 in his role as a residential care worker for PACS (UK) Limited.
The north-east company specialises in helping children and teenagers by offering psychological assessments, psychotherapy and counselling.
In 2013, Clark “incorrectly administered” a dose of fluoxetine to the youngster – named only as AA – who has already been given their dose of the anti-depression that day.
One month later, he grabbed the child’s face and neck, pushed him forcibly to the ground, took hold of his face and held it in a claw-like grip.
Her then shouted and swore in his face.
“In doing so, he did place AA at risk of physical and emotional harm,” the SSSC said.
Clark also admitted leaving work early, failing to tell the SSSC he had been handed numerous written warnings because of his behaviour, and left his colleagues in the lurch when he declared he did not want to care for the youngster.
“Service users have the right to expect that they will be treated with dignity and respect and protected from harm by social service workers in whom they have placed their trust and confidence,” the SSSC ruled.
“By grabbing service user AA by the face and neck, lifting AA’s head and pushing it forcibly on to the ground, taking hold of AA’s face in a claw-like grip and shouting at AA, the registrant was physically and verbally abusive and was likely to cause injury, distress and fear – putting a service user at risk of physical, emotional and
psychological harm.
“This type of misconduct is incompatible with the behaviour expected of a person registered, or expecting to be registered, with the council.
“Also, by providing false information to his employer and failing to declare disciplinary matters to the council in his renewal applications, the registrant was not only dishonest, but also breached the trust and
confidence placed in him.
“Such behaviour amounts to an abuse of
position.”
When contacted by the Press and Journal yesterday, Clark declined to comment.
His former employer could not be contacted.