A care practitioner has been reprimanded for failing to adequately supervise children – which led to one boy stripping naked and the escape of another child who crossed two roads to get to a park.
Kirsty Anderson has received a warning from Scotland’s care watchdog for leaving children unsupervised on two occasions at Lincluden After School Group in Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway.
In February 2021, Anderson allowed two children to play alone in the sensory room. During a game of truth or dare, a boy removed all of his clothing.
The childcare practitioner received a written warning from her employer and additional training following the incident, but once again left a child unsupervised five months later.
On that occasion in July 2021, a child left the building without Anderson’s knowledge and crossed two roads to reach a park area.
In a written ruling published last week, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) found Anderson’s fitness to practise impaired.
The watchdog stated: “Your behaviour is of a serious nature, placing vulnerable children at risk of serious harm.
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“Your actions also had the potential to make parents feel it would not be safe for their children to be left in your care or that of your colleagues.”
‘Careless rather than malicious’
In regards to the second incident, the SSSC said Anderson’s conduct appeared to be “careless rather than malicious”.
The watchdog noted that she had worked in a registrable role for four years prior to the initial incident with no concerns logged.
Anderson was also said to have fully co-operated with the SSSC investigation and did not attempt to conceal any wrongdoing.
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However, the watchdog said: “Evidence of remediation from you is limited.
“While you have shown regret and remorse for your actions, you do not appear to have considered the impact and potential consequences of your conduct on the children.
“Further, you had additional training following the initial incident in February 2021 yet five months later you repeated similar misconduct of leaving a child unsupervised.
“For these reasons the SSSC considers there is a moderate risk of similar behaviour being repeated.”
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The two-year warning came into effect on Friday.
A number of conditions have also been imposed, with Anderson ordered to submit a reflective account and undertake refresher learning – including “how best to manage wandering behaviour in children”.
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