A Perth childcare worker has been stripped of her accreditation after smacking and shoving soap in a six-year-old autistic boy’s mouth.
Kathleen Burton was charged with aggravated common assault on December 14 last year.
Burton pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated common assault in the Joondalip Magistrates Court on February 28, the ABC reported.
A Perth childcare worker has been stripped of her accreditation after smacking and shoving soap in a six-year-old autistic boy’s mouth
Kathleen Burton was charged with aggravated common assault on December 14 last year
She was also fined $700, and was ordered to pay court costs of $100.
Another two childcare workers who were involved in the assault also had their accreditation cancelled.
According to the Department of Communities, a second childcare worker, Tammie Bell, held the six-year-old boy while Ms Burton shoved soap in his mouth.
However, before the incident, Ms Bell knew the child had been hit but failed to report the incident to the regulatory authority, the ABC reported.
Another two childcare workers who were involved in the assault also had their accreditation cancelled. Tammie Bell, a second childcare worker, held the six-year-old boy while Ms Burton shoved soap in his mouth
The third childcare worker, Jessica Peters, witnessed the incident and failed to intervene
The third childcare worker, Jessica Peters, witnessed the incident and was stripped of her accreditation after failing to intervene and prevent the incident.
The CEO of Autism Associated of WA Joan McKenna-Kerr condemened the women’s behaviour and said there needed to be improved training for childcare workers.
‘Kiddies with autism often process the world in a different way, and often have their behaviour misinterpreted, but it’s just their way of trying to communicate a need,’ she told the ABC.
The ABC reported that the department has no further investigations under way as the matter has been dealt with.
All three childcare workers will be able to apply to have their accreditation reinstated at a later date.
All three childcare workers will be able to apply to have their accreditation reinstated at a later date