An Aberdeen care worker has been reprimanded for sharing a post of a young person on his social media – and lying to his bosses after they asked him to take it down.
George Snow, a project worker employed by Barnardo’s Scotland in Aberdeen, shared an image of a young person – AA – on his Facebook on July 18 last year.
The photo featured the caption referring to the young person’s behaviour.
A report by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) states that when his service manager asked him to remove the comment a few days later, Mr Snow lied and said he had taken it down.
The SSSC has now ruled Mr Snow’s fitness to practice was impaired as a result.
In the watchdog’s decision, the panel said: “Social services are expected to treat users of services with dignity and respect, particularly regarding any vulnerabilities.
“If seen, your post was likely to have become connected to young person AA by a number of people, including AA themselves.
“It placed AA at risk of emotional and psychological harm.”
They added that Mr Snow’s failure to remove the post showed a “lack of regard for reasonable senior instruction.”
“Your failure shows a lack of respect for AA, raising concerns about your ability to recognise what is appropriate communication in such circumstances and how to deal sensitively with the issues that young people may face.
“Your conduct was an abuse of trust towards AA, your colleagues and your employer.”
However, investigators also noted that Mr Snow had cooperated with the SSSC for the entire of investigation, and that it was an isolated incident.
The SSSC placed a warning on his registration for a period of 12 months from May 4.
Last night Barnardo’s confirmed Mr Snow had been dismissed from his role as a result of the incident.
Dawn Ward, assistant director of children’s services at Barnardo’s Scotland said: “Barnardo’s Scotland can confirm George Snow was employed by the charity, Mr Snow was suspended as soon as we became aware of the incident, and following an internal investigation Mr Snow was subsequently dismissed.
“The well-being of young people in our care is of paramount importance to the charity.”
