East Lothian children's worker mocked child and said another 'reeks of cat pee'

Yahoo

21-07-2025

An East Lothian children's practitioner mocked a child and told a colleague another youngster 'smelt like cat pee'.
Avril Davidson was given a 12-month warning on her registration last week following a hearing with the Scottish Social Services Council in which several comments she about children in her care were referenced.
While working as a practitioner in Musselburgh, Davidson said to a colleague: "look he's going to cry," referring to a child. Several months later, in February 2024, she refused to let a colleague help paint the kitchen, claiming she was a "liability."
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The comment reportedly made the member of staff feel upset. On or around February 22, Davidson stated to a colleague that a child "reeks of cat p**h and has all week" in the presence of other children.
The regulator noted how the comments made regarding the first child took place at an after-school club and all three incidents placed colleagues and children at risk of emotional harm.
The council also told how Davidson has not cooperated with their investigation or shown any remorse or apologised for the pattern of behaviour.
They wrote: "While in the after-school club you said to your colleague ZZ about child AA 'look he's going to cry', or words to that effect to mock AA. You later spoke to your colleague YY stating that she could not help paint the kitchen as she was a 'liability' or words to that effect, causing her to feel upset.
"At a later date you said to your colleague XX that child BB 'reeks of cats p**h' or words to that effect which was said in the presence of other children. The misconduct placed both the children and your colleague at the risk of emotional harm.
"Although it is not at the most serious end of the scale, we have concluded there is a risk of repetition as you have not engaged with the SSSC or shown any remorse or insight. You have not given us any reassurances that you have reflected and learned from the misconduct and that it is unlikely to happen again."