A CAREER who was fired for having “intimate” relationship with a vulnerable teen at a children’s home has found new love.
Jade Fitzpatrick, 26, was caught hugging and kissing the 17-year-old boy after having closed-door overnight visits in his room at a children’s residential home where she worked.
The pair allegedly started dating at the North Wales home and had planned a 200-mile overnight trip to Thorpe Park together.
However, concerns were raised after the teen damaged a car when the trip was cancelled, prompting an investigation.
Fitzpatrick has since been barred from the bar due to concerns that her actions would be “repeated in the future.”
Fitzpatrick has been seen in social media photos cuddling up to her new girlfriend Kelly Tushingham.
Photos show the couple hugging, with Kelly writing, “I love you forever my girl.”
Fitzpatrick also commented “baby” on a photo on Kelly’s page.
Fitzpatrick’s ex-boyfriend, care worker Matthew Griffifths, was accused of failing to notify care bosses of his concerns about her.
A colleague told a Fitness to Practise hearing earlier this month that Fitzpatrick wore “inappropriate” clothes to work after seeing her in hot pants and a crop top.
Fitzpatrick and the boy, who communicated through a “secret language” described as “jibba-jabba” by one witness, were also sitting with their legs draped across each other, according to the colleague.
The Social Care Wales Panel learned that she had also texted the boy, saying “I love you.”
Fitzpatrick had also visited the teen in his room late at night with the door closed “on numerous occasions.”
Fitzpatrick “failed to maintain a professional boundary” and formed a “inappropriate relationship” with the boy, according to the hearing.
“Given the evidence, we are satisfied that Miss Fitzpatrick visited [the boy] at night with the door closed,” said Justin Davies, legal adviser to Social Care Wales.
‘BRAZEN LIES’
“We acknowledge that there are a variety of reasons why staff members might enter a young person’s bedroom, but it would be with the door open.”
He went on to say that “the inappropriate nature of the relationship was clear to see” and that “her behaviour was more likely than not 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, surfaced in August 2020, when the youth caused damage to a car near the home.
A staff member was informed by a neighbour that Fitzpatrick and the youth had kissed and hugged several times.
Fitzpatrick was suspended after the police investigated their relationship.
She was struck from the register after four allegations of failing to maintain a professional boundary were found to be true.
Lorna Savidge, the chairwoman of the Fitness to Practise hearing, said yesterday that Fitzpatrick had “brazenly lied” to prospective employers about being unaware of her suspension.
She claimed that the caregiver had put colleagues who had reported her to management in a difficult position while continuing to deny the allegations.
Fitzpatrick had shown no signs of understanding the gravity of her actions and thus continued to endanger others, according to Ms Savidge.
“There is nothing to persuade us that the conduct would not be repeated in the future,” she said, referring to “serious departures from the code of conduct for social care.”
