Support worker told colleague he 'couldn't trust himself' to visit female service user alone

A support worker at a homelessness charity told a colleague that he “couldn’t trust himself” to visit a female service user alone.

James McConville was also found to have said a female service user was a “good-looking girl” and that another would be “a good-looking girl if she lost some of that weight”.

McConville made the comments while employed by Simon Community Scotland in Glasgow between May and December 2023.

Following an investigation, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said McConville’s comments were “unprofessional and inappropriate”, and as such his fitness to practice was impaired.

The SSSC handed McConville a warning which will stay on his registration for 12 months.

Conditions were also placed on McConville, including undertaking refresher courses on codes of practice and health and social care standards and notifying his employer of the warning on his registration. He was also tasked with providing a reflective account showing he understood the impact of his behaviour on others.

The notice came into effect on September 11.