Clydebank care worker struck off after he broke a child's nose by headbutting them

A care worker has been struck off after he headbutted a child which caused them to break their nose.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) made the decision to remove Gregory Paul, from Clydebank, from the register for residential child care workers on Wednesday, November 16.

A hearing by the SSSC found that on or around February 2, 2021 while at his place of work, Paul headbutted a child causing them to break their nose in response to physically challenging “heightened behaviour”.

He then picked the child up by the top of the legs and “forcefully” threw them to the ground.

Making its decision, the SSSC said Paul’s behaviour raised “significant concerns” regarding his underlying values and attitude.

It added that he “demonstrated a disregard and contempt for the rights and dignity of a young person” in his care.

The panel said: “You have headbutted a young person and picked them up by the top of their legs and forcefully thrown them to the ground in response to them displaying physically challenging behaviour towards you.

“Although challenging situations can be difficult to manage, this behaviour is physically abuse and falls below the standards expected of social service workers.

“These actions caused or contributed to the service user sustaining a significant injury, namely a broken nose. Responding to challenging behaviour in this manner raises significant concerns about your underlying values and violates fundamental tenant of the profession.

“This behaviour raises serious questions about your suitability to work in social services.”

The council said that despite showing “remorse and regret”, Paul’s behaviour, which was described as “at the most serious end of the spectrum”, demonstrated a “serious loss of self control”.

The SSSC said that no other sanctions would be appropriate other than to remove him from the register.