Support worker started relationship with crack cocaine addict and left child in their care

A support worker who started a relationship with a crack cocaine addict and left their eight-year-old daughter in their care has been struck off.

The unnamed social care worker was hauled in front of the Scottish Social Services Council after beginning an intimate relationship with the service user, referred to as AA, who has anxiety, depression, PTSD and suffered from alcohol and crack cocaine addiction.

The worker also left their eight-year-old daughter in AA’s care on at least two occasions while they were at work. This occurred while AA was subject to criminal proceedings.

The SSSC also heard that the support worker gave alcohol to AA, despite his addiction to the substance.

The incidents were alleged to have occured between June 26 and September 8 last year.

The worker maintained that the relationship with AA began after they had left the residential unit that they worked in, however, accepted that he was still under the care of their employer and recognised this was a breach of professional boundaries.

The SSSC said the care worker had access to information about AA, which created a “power imbalance”.

The watchdog heard that the care worker remained in a romantic relationship with AA despite the SSSC investigation and a probe launched by their employer.

The SSSC said: “You have demonstrated several instances of significant lapse in judgement which placed both AA and your daughter at high risk of harm.”

The watchdog stated that their behaviour was “fundamentally incompatible with ongoing professional registration”, and they were struck from the register.