A Lanarkshire carer has been struck off for physically abusing a vulnerable elderly man while at work.
Samara Pliego was working as a care assistant at a residential and dementia care home at Lower Johnshill in Lanark in September 2021 when the incident unfolded.
During her time as a carer, Pliego pulled a resident by his belt and hit him before grabbing his left forearm and digging her nails in. The actions caused him to bruise, bleed and sustain four small puncture wounds.
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The carer was called before the Scottish Social Services Council over the 'extremely serious' allegations. The panel concluded that the behaviour caused 'physical and emotional harm' to a vulnerable resident and amounted to an abuse of trust.
Pliego, who has worked in the sector for over two years with no other findings against her, was reported to have not shown any insight into why her behaviour was wrong.
The panel added: "We can't be reassured that you will not act like this again. If you did, you would place vulnerable people at risk harm.
"We need to find your fitness to practise impaired to protect the public.d. The behaviour is so serious that we need to find your fitness to practise impaired so that the public can be confident that the SSSC takes action when they should."
It was concluded that a suspension order wouldn't be appropriate as she had failed to give assurances that the behaviour wouldn't happen again.
She was instead struck off and will no longer be able to work as a carer to 'protect the public and reassure the public that the SSSC are an effective regulator'.
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