A Cumnock carer has been removed from the register after making sexual innuendos and risking "emotional and psychological harm" to youngsters, according to a decision notice.

Steven Currie was struck off following a probe by watchdog body the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

The notice found that Currie told one person to “put your tat tats away” or words to that effect, referring to her breasts.

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He was also found to have put young people’s underwear on his head, sing songs with sexual references and make thrusting motions with his groin.

The incidents are believed to have taken place between May 2019 and September 2021, while he was employed as a residential care worker by Inspire Scotland Limited.

In January 2020, while sitting around a dinner table with youngsters, Currie was found to have slowly peeled a banana while saying “one skin, two skin, three skin, four skin,” or words to that effect.

Currie admitted to the allegations of telling a young person to “put your tat tats away” as well as admitting to placing a youngster's underwear on his head.

However, he denies all other allegations.

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The decision notice states: "Regular use of sexual innuendo in the presence of young people and colleagues, as well as passing comment on a young person’s breasts, shows a serious disregard for the boundaries in place to protect the fundamental relationship of trust and care between workers and vulnerable young people.

"It also shows a serious disregard for the emotional welfare of the young people in your care, who have the right to expect professional and role-modelling behaviour from their carers.

"Your behaviour risked emotional and psychological harm to the vulnerable, young individuals, as well as damage to the relationships these young people had – and would have – with social care workers."

SSSC added that a removal was the fitting punishment for these actions, as "a warning would not be appropriate as it would not adequately address Page 4 of 5 the impairment of your fitness to practice. The behaviour is serious, and a warning would give no protection to service users or the public."

Inspire Scotland Limited said: "We investigated the member of staff in question as soon as allegations about his behaviour were made to us.

"As a result of our enquiries, he resigned in October 2021 before disciplinary action could be taken against him.

"In compliance with SSSC regulations, we reported the results of our internal investigation to them immediately."