Carer who attended lockdown party showed 'no insight, regret or apology'

Karen Greer, who worked at Hill View Care Home in Clydebank, was one of around 20 people who gathered in a home for a gender reveal party in October 2020. 

Videos of the gathering circulated on social media at the time, showing a large group of people dancing.

Police were called to the home at Trafalgar Street shortly before 11pm, but said there was "no party ongoing". 

Ms Greer was initially suspended from her role and after an investigation, she was sacked. 

She has now been handed a warning by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), that will stay on her registration for a period of six months.

It was noted that no actual harm was caused by her action during an investigation by the regulator of the country's social service workforce.

In a recent report, the SSSC said Ms Greer did not engage meaningfully during their investigation and expressed "no insight, regret or apology for your action".

A statement read: "The party occurred during the first Covid lockdown, and at a point of time when the high number of deaths in care services was a national concern.

"This was at a point in time before Covid vaccinations were available, and those vulnerable adults in care services were most at risk of becoming seriously ill, or dying, from contracting Covid-19." 

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It went on to say: "Your behaviour had the potential to expose service users and colleagues to contracting Covid-19, given it was possible you could have contracted this by attending the gender reveal party, and infect those service users to whom you provided care, and colleagues, when you returned to work."

A spokesman for Advinia Care Homes Ltd, which runs the home, said: "At the end of 2020, when these allegations were brought to our attention, this staff member was suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation. 

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"On conclusion of that investigation, she was dismissed from her position.

"Throughout the pandemic, we operated a zero-tolerance policy with regard to the breaking of local coronavirus restrictions and we always expected our staff to follow the very latest Scottish Government guidance, both at work and in their local community.

"The safety and wellbeing of our residents and colleagues is our number one priority, and we continue to follow the very highest infection control protocols in our homes."