Drunk social care worker sanctioned

Warning The Scottish Social Services Council compiled a report on Mathieson

- PAUL BEHAN

A social care worker has been sanctioned by the industry regulator after attending work under the influence of alcohol - and providing a service user on a liquidised diet with full berries in their porridge.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) placed a warning on Chirsty Mathieson’s registration for a period of 24 months.

The incidents took place on or around December 11, 2022, when Mathieson was employed as a support worker with Key Housing Association Limited, which has bases in Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire.

When challenged by a colleague about providing the service user, known only as ‘AA’ with full berries, Mathieson replied: “If he can eat his tablets whole, he can also swallow berries,” or words to that effect.

As a result the SSSC deemed Mathieson’s fitness to practise “impaired” due to “misconduct.”