A care home worker has been struck off for upsetting a dementia patient by hitting an empathy doll in the face and throwing it to the ground, saying “it was funny.”
Paula Lambert, who worked at the HC-One Redmill care home in East Whitburn, has been told her “fitness to practise is impaired” following the incident by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
The council said that while in the presence of service user - referred to as AA - who has dementia, Lambert hit an empathy doll on the face, on at least one occasion and on the body, threw the doll on the floor, on at least one occasion and forcefully poked it in the face.
When challenged by other staff members, over the incident in November 2019, Lambert replied: “I do it all the time, it’s funny”, or words to that effect.
The SSSC ruled her actions had caused distress to the resident and removed Lambert from the SSSC Register for Support Workers in a Care Home Service for Adults.
Its report said it appeared to be an “isolated incident”, but continued: “You have behaved in a way that caused distress to a service user.
“You have hit the empathy doll on the face and body and thrown it on the floor. This was all done in the presence of a service user.
“The therapy doll was there to provide comfort to AA.
“Your behaviour shows a lack of respect for AA and a failure to treat them as an individual.
“You have also failed, through your behaviour, to recognise the responsibility and authority you have when working with services users.
“You have also said that you ‘do it all the time, and it’s funny’.
“This is not appropriate and shows a disregard for the use and purpose of the therapy doll.
“Your behaviour falls below the standards expected of workers and calls into question your suitability to work as part of the social services profession.”
A spokesperson for Redmill said: “As The Kind Care company, we treat all our residents with the utmost respect, and we do not tolerate the kind of distressing behaviour exhibited by this individual, who no longer works for HC-One in any capacity.
“At the time of this historic incident, we took immediate action, referring the incident to the SSSC and all relevant authorities ourselves. We have worked closely with them throughout their ongoing inquiries.
“We support the decision of the SSSC to issue a removal order, and we will always support action being taken to protect the dignity and wellbeing of older people in care.”
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