A support worker at an Ayrshire care home told an elderly resident to “shut up” when they asked her if they could go back to bed.
Mae Kennedy also told the vulnerable resident to “just sit there and shut up” during the incident at Ayr’s Windyhall care home LLP at Templeton House.
And her fitness to practise was “impaired” because of “misconduct” the industry regulator, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), found.
A fitness to practise hearing was told how the incident happened at the care home on or around April 11 last year.
Kennedy was also deemed to have ‘failed’ to have shown ‘respect’ and ‘dignity’ to the resident.
In an extract from the SSSC’s decision in the case, it said Kennedy’s behaviour had the “potential to cause emotional harm” to the resident, known only as ‘AA,’ as well as her colleagues who witnessed what happened.
Kennedy was also deemed to have “failed to co-operate” with the SSSC’s investigation into the incident.
The SSSC told Kennedy: “Social service workers have a duty to treat each service user as an individual and to respect and maintain the dignity of those of who use services.
“By shouting at AA to shut up, you [Kennedy] have failed to treat AA with respect. As a social service worker, you should respect the wishes of those who use services.
“AA asked to go back to bed, and you refused. AA was vulnerable. Accordingly, you had a duty of care, which was not met due to your actions.”
The SSSC also said Kennedy’s actions called into question her “suitability” to work in the care sector.
However, the regulator also said there were factors in Kennedy’s favour; namely, there was not believed to be any “actual harm” caused as a result of the incident and her behaviour at the time was “an isolated incident”.
The SSSC decided to impose a warning on Kennedy’s registration for nine months, effective from Wednesday, October 20.
The SSSC said to Kennedy: “Given your behaviour, a finding of impairment is necessary to maintain public confidence in the integrity of the register and in the SSSC as a regulator.
“We decided the appropriate sanction is to place a warning on your registration for a period of nine months.”
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