A Paisley carer has been warned after taking a child on unauthorised visits.

Shaun Bryden also let youngsters access Snapchat on his personal phone despite them not being allowed to use the social media app.

The behaviour happened while employed as a child and youth care worker with Kibble Education and Care Centre.

Bryden now has a warning on his registration for a period of 36 months with conditions imposed, according to the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

The watchdog reported that around August and September 2020, on more than one occasion, Bryden made arrangements with a boy to take him out before discussing and agreeing this with other members of staff.

He also took the child to visit a person on two occasions, despite this not being allowed via his authorised mobility plan.

Bryden then told the child not to tell anyone that he had planned the visit.

Now he has been slammed for repeatedly “failing to maintain professional boundaries” which put vulnerable residents at harm.

The SSSC report stated: “It is noted that the young person was at risk of exhibiting poor behaviour if he were to come into contact with [information redacted].

“Your actions in deviating from the mobility plan and allowing the young person to visit his [information redacted] put the young person, his [information redacted] and you at risk of harm.

“You also attempted to conceal your wrongdoing in allowing the young person to visit his [information redacted] by telling the young person not to inform anyone else.

“Your actions could have had serious implications for the young person.

“Social service workers must also meet relevant standards of practice and work in a safe and effective way. On more than one occasion, you agreed to take the young person out on mobility without discussing this with other members of your team or management first.

“You also allowed the young person to access social media on your phone, despite the young person not being permitted to use this.

“You repeatedly failed to maintain professional boundaries, which may have led the young person to believe that you were ‘friends’ rather than seeing you as being in a position of authority and responsibility.

“Your actions may also have led the young person to believe that behaving in this manner was acceptable and had the potential to impact on the young person’s relationships with other staff members as a result.”

Bryden was also warned for behaviour around 15 May, 2020, as he gave an art box which included a pencil sharpener to a vulnerable youngster which resulted in physical harm.

Bryden then gave the same child access to a PlayStation console with unsecured cables along with a tin of beans around March and September 2020.

This resulted in physical harm again, which resulted in the SSSC to brand the carer’s fitness to practise is impaired over misconduct.

The report added "while it does not appear that you did any of these things maliciously or with the intent to cause the young person harm", the behaviour "caused actual physical harm on two occasions".