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‘Sexually motivated’ carer struck off for ‘sexual relationship’ with vulnerable boy, 17, at kids’ home finds new love

2022-03-23 00:00:00.0 太阳报-英国新闻原网页

A CARER who was struck off for having a "sexual" relationship with a vulnerable teen at a kids' home has found a new love.

Jade Fitzpatrick, 26, was caught hugging and kissing the boy, 17, after having closed-door visits in his room overnight at a kids' residential home where she worked.

Jade Fitzpatrick, 26, was struck off for having a "sexual" relationship with a vulnerable teen Credit: WNS 4

Now, the carer has been seen cosying up to her new girlfriend Kelly Tushingham in social media snaps Credit: Facebook 4

She hugged and kissed the boy, 17, and had closed-door visits in his room overnight Credit: WNS

The pair allegedly began a relationship at the North Wales home - and had booked to go on a 200-mile overnight trip together to Thorpe Park.

But concerns were raised after the teen damaged a car when the trip was called off and an investigation was launched.

Fitzpatrick has since been struck off over fears her conduct would be "repeated in future".

Now, Fitzpatrick has been seen cosying up to her new girlfriend Kelly Tushingham in social media snaps.

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The colleague also spotted Fitzpatrick and the boy - who communicated through a “secret language” that one witness described as “jibba-jabba” - sitting with their legs draped across each other.

The Social Care Wales Panel heard she had also sent messages to the boy saying “I love you.”

And Fitzpatrick had visited the teen in his room at night with the door closed “on many occasions”.

The hearing found that Fitzpatrick “failed to maintain a professional boundary” and formed an “inappropriate relationship” with the boy.

Justin Davies, legal adviser to Social Care Wales, said: “Given the evidence, we are satisfied that Miss Fitzpatrick visited [the boy] at night with the door closed.

'BRAZEN LIES'

"We recognise that there are a number of reasons why staff members would go into a young person’s bedroom, however it would be with the door open.”

He added that “the inappropriate nature of the relationship was plain to see” and that “it was more likely than not that her behaviour was sexually motivated - there is no other plausible explanation that explains the conduct that we have found proven”.

The allegations against Fitzpatrick - who worked for the Keys Childcare Group - came to light in August 2020 when the youth damaged the car near the home.

A neighbour told a member of staff that he had seen Fitzpatrick and the youth kissing and hugging several times.

The police investigated their relationship and Fitzpatrick was suspended.

Four allegations of failing to maintain a professional boundary were found proved and she was struck from the register.

Yesterday, the Fitness to Practise hearing's chairwoman Lorna Savidge said that Fitzpatrick had ”brazenly lied” to her prospective employers about being unaware of her suspension.

'SEXUALLY MOTIVATED'

She said the carer had placed colleagues who had reported her to management in a difficult position and had continued to deny the allegations.

Fitzpatrick had shown no signs of having an insight into the seriousness of her conduct and therefore continued to pose a risk to others, said Ms Savidge.

Referring to “serious departures from the code of conduct for social care, she said: “There is nothing to persuade us that the conduct would not be repeated in future."