A SCOTS early years worker has been given a warning after she grabbed her colleague’s breast and made a “honking” sound.
Aneta Kieszkowska bizarrely groped her workmate whilst on shift last month as an early years support worker by East Lothian Council.
Kieszkowska has now had a six-month warning imposed on her record by care watchdog the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) following a hearing into her actions.
Whilst Kieszkowska’s actions were found to have not been intended with malice but instead in a joking manner, the SSSC described her behaviour as “inappropriate and disrespectful”.
The full report reads: “We decided there is evidence that on or around Monday 13 February 2023, while employed as a support worker (early years) by East Lothian Council at, and while in the course of that employment, you did: grab colleague ZZ’s breast and make a honking sound.”
The panel agreed that Kieszkowska’s fitness to practice was impaired, stating: “Your fitness to practise is impaired because: social service workers are expected to treat their colleagues with respect and not cause them harm.
“You grabbed your colleague ZZ’s breast and made a honking sound. Your behaviour was inappropriate and disrespectful towards your colleague.
“There is no suggestion that your actions were sexually motivated or done out of malice.
“You explained that you were behaving in a jokey manner and did not intend to cause any upset.”
Kieszkowska’s remorse for her actions lessened the harshness of her punishment, with the pael stating: “You have admitted your behaviour and recognise it was inappropriate.
“You regret your actions and have apologised for your behaviour.
“Taking into account that this was an isolated incident, together with the insight, regret and remorse you have shown the risk of repetition is assessed as low.
“Your behaviour does raise public protection issues due to risk of emotional harm to ZZ.
“Furthermore, the seriousness of the behaviour requires that the SSSC mark it as unacceptable to ensure that appropriate standards are maintained and also maintaining public confidence in the profession.”
The panel agreed that a six-month warning was the most appropriate sanction, stating: “When making our decision we considered the following factors: your behaviour was aggravated as it took place inside work.
“Your behaviour risked causing emotional harm to ZZ. You have showed good insight into why your actions were not appropriate. You had no previous allegations of misconduct.
“There have been no further incidents since these allegations.
“You have co-operated fully with the SSSC. This was an isolated incident, not part of a larger pattern.”
The notice came into effect on Tuesday.
