The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) has placed a warning on the registration of residential childcare worker Diane Turner after she arrived at work in Ayr under the influence of alcohol.
Turner was said to be 'drunk' when she turned up for her shift at Spark of Genius (Training) Ltd Ayr on or around 12 August 2025. She had consumed two large glasses of Prosecco at a meal before her shift.
SSSC decision
The SSSC said her fitness to practise was 'impaired' due to 'misconduct' and placed a warning on her registration for 12 months. In their notice of decision, the SSSC stated: 'The behaviour was serious. People who use services have the right to expect that social service workers act responsibly and do not report for work and attempt to provide care and support while under the influence of alcohol.'
The regulator added: 'It is likely that your judgement and your ability to practise safely and effectively would have been severely impaired.'
Isolated incident
The SSSC noted that Turner had a 'good previous history' in the sector, working in social services for eight years, and that her behaviour was an 'isolated incident.' She admitted her behaviour to her employer and expressed regret. However, the SSSC said: 'You have not provided any comments to the SSSC so we cannot be reassured that your remorse was genuine, and we cannot be satisfied that there is no risk of the behaviour being repeated in the future.'
In placing the warning, the SSSC concluded: 'Your behaviour fell below the standards expected. Members of the public, in possession of all the information, would expect the SSSC as the professional regulator to mark your behaviour as unacceptable and to reinforce the clear standards of professional conduct expected of a social service worker.'
