A MORAY CARE HOME support worker was found to be guilty of misconduct after delivering a foul-language rant at a senior colleague in the presence of service users.
A report to the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said that while Shawn Craib was at work with the Community Integrated Care service in Fochabers on January 4 this year, he was heard to shout “you f***ing well think you know it all and you are better than us”, or words to that effect, in the presence of service users and colleagues.
Around four days later he was heard to state his political views to a service user – despite being asked to stop both by the user and a colleague. Mr Craib, the report said, caused distress in doing so and was guilty of failure to communicate “in an appropriate manner” with a service user.
In the notice of their decision on Friday, the SSSC imposed a warning on Mr Craib that would remain on his record for six months.
“Social service workers have the right to expect that they will be treated with dignity and respect and their health and safety protected by their social service colleagues,” the report stated as the reason for its findings, adding: “Shouting and swearing at a colleague in the presence of service users and other colleagues demonstrated a failure to treat your colleagues with dignity and respect and represents an unacceptable disregard for your colleagues.
“Such behaviour was likely to cause, distress, fear and alarm to the colleague who was subjected to the behaviour, placing her at risk of emotional and psychological harm. Further, service users were present during the incident and would have witnessed your behaviour, which was likely to cause them fear and distress, thereby placing them at risk of emotional and psychological harm.”
The report noted that Mr Craib had been advised of the consequences of his actions and had been invited to take legal advice. It noted that he had “demonstrated an insight into his behaviour” and there was a low risk of repetition.
He admitted the charge and misconduct, and had consented to the imposition of the warning.