A SCOTS career has been removed from the register after being found guilty of making inappropriate sexual advances towards his colleagues.
Robert Jinks was found guilty of the offences while employed as a personal assistant for Enable Scotland, Glasgow between October 2022 and June 2023.
Amongst the offences, Jinks was found to have put his arm around a colleague and placed his hand on their lower back.
He was also found to have slapped the colleague on the bum as they walked away, and licked another colleague on the neck.
Care watchdog the Scottish Social Service Council (SSSC) stated in their report:
“You did […]
1. Put your arms around your colleague ZZ and touch her lower back
B. on ZZ walking away from you, slap ZZ on the bottom.
“2. On or around 29 May 2023 put your arms around your colleague XX’s shoulders and give her a cuddle.
“3. on specific dates unknown between in or around April 2023 and in or around June 2023
“A. on around four occasions, lick your colleague XX on the neck b. on more than one occasion, cuddle your colleague XX.
“4. on specific dates unknown between in or around March 2022 and in or around November 2022 a. on more than one occasion, put your arm around your colleague ZZ
“B. ask your colleague ZZ about her sex life c. tell your colleague ZZ that you had ‘seen a car rocking’, or words to that effect d. tell your colleague ZZ that you had ‘seen bare bums’, or words to that effect.
“E. tell your colleague ZZ that while out on support, you had ‘seen a woman standing outside in a sexy nightie’, or words to that effect.
“5. by your actions at allegations 1, 2, 3 and 4 above, act in a manner which was sexually motivated.”
The panel agreed that Jinks fitness to practice was impaired. They stated:
“This behaviour amounts to a failure to communicate appropriately with ZZ. You have also slapped ZZ’s bottom and put your arm around her to touch her lower back.
“You have behaved in an inappropriate, sexual manner towards a separate colleague, XX, in that you have cuddled her and licked her neck on a number of occasions.
“This behaviour amounts to sexual abuse of your colleagues as well as a failure to treat them with respect.
“Social service workers are expected not to place themselves or others at unnecessary risk.
“They are expected not to behave, while inside or outside of work, in a way which would bring their suitability to work in social services into question.
“Your behaviour amounts to a pattern of inappropriate sexual contact with your colleagues and placed them at serious risk of emotional harm.
Both of your colleagues have indicated that your behaviour made them uncomfortable.
“The behaviour indicates serious underlying attitudinal and values concerns which are incompatible with professional registration.”
The panel agreed that a removal was the most appropriate sanction, stating:
“There are ongoing public protection concerns as the behaviour is of a serious nature.
“The behaviour indicates serious underlying attitudinal and values concerns which are not easily remedied.
“Conduct of this nature raises serious and fundamental questions about your values and there is a risk that your behaviour may be repeated in the future.
“Your behaviour indicates serious underlying attitudinal and values issues which are not easily remedied. The behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with professional registration.
“Your behaviour showed a high disregard for the Codes of Practice and amounts to sexual abuse of your colleagues.
