Ayrshire support worker sanctioned for foul-mouthed jibe against service users

A support worker with Hansel Alliance has been sanctioned by the industry regulator for labelling two service users “f*****g a*******s.”

Leanne McCulloch also moaned to colleagues at the charity’s Supported Living Services unit that the two service users ‘had her up since 5.30am,’ referred to one of them as a “wee b***h” and she made the comments within earshot of one of the service users she had previously described.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) took a dim view of McCulloch’s behaviour, which occurred on or around June 5 2023, and placed a warning on her registration for 12 months - and imposed conditions on her future practice.

In their Notice of Decision, the SSSC told McCulloch, whose town of employment was given as Kilmarnock: “Social service workers are expected to respect and maintain the dignity of people who use services. Using this type of language while discussing supported people is abusive and has the potential to cause emotional harm, to the supported person who could have overheard, and to your colleagues who you were speaking to.

“This type of behaviour is a breach of the trust placed in you by supported people, their families, your employer and the SSSC.”

McCulloch, it was said, “denied the behaviour,” suggesting that the reports were “bullying.”

But the SSSC said: “We did take this into account, however, did not find sufficient proof to discredit the reliability of the witnesses. You (McCulloch) did not offer any insight into why any such behaviour would be wrong, or provide any assurances on your practice in the future. As a result, the FtP (Fitness to Practise) department and the wider public cannot be satisfied that the behaviour would not be repeated.”

It was revealed that McCulloch had a “previous good history” with the SSSC and she “co-operated” with the investigation into her behaviour.

But the SSSC found her in breach of their Code of Practice for Social Service Workers.

They said: “The SSSC has a duty to uphold proper standards of conduct and behaviour for social service workers. Given your (McCulloch’s) behaviour, a finding of impairment is necessary to maintain public confidence in the integrity of the register and in the SSSC as a regulator.”

Hansel is a social care provider, based in Symington, offering a range of services to people living with learning difficulties.

Hansel issued a statement which read: "We note the recent findings of the SSSC in respect of conduct by Ms McCulloch and welcome their decision. We can confirm that Ms McCulloch has not been employed by Hansel since July 2023.

“Hansel is a charity that strives at all times to promote and ensure the safety, rights, care and wellbeing of the people we support and our team members. We do this through the application of robust policies and procedures and consulting with the relevant authorities."

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