A Wishaw support worker has been reprimanded after shouting in the face of a service user.
Aileen O’Connor was given a warning that will stay on her registration for six months following the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) hearing.
In April last year, O’Connor was found to have shouted in the face of a service user, named in the report as AA; restrained her by holding her hands down when she was showing signs of self-harm, contrary to AA’s support plan and remove the service user’s dinner plate while she was eating.
O’Connor was also found to have used her vape in AA’s home; removed a cup of coffee from her hands while she was drinking and take the woman’s wheelchair without her permission.
The SSSC report states: “Social service workers should not put other people at unnecessary risk of harm. You shouted and physically restrained AA. In doing so, you placed AA at risk of emotional and physical harm.
“You also removed a plate of food and a cup of coffee from AA while she was still eating and drinking, demonstrating a lack of dignity and respect towards AA’s autonomy.
“Finally, you removed an item of equipment from AA’s home. While you did replace this item once you had finished with it, you did not ask permission to borrow the item.
“Your behaviour falls short of what would be expected of a social care worker.”
The SSSC noted that O’Connor had been the subject of a disciplinary review in relation to similar behaviour in the past.
However, it was also stated that O’Connor had received positive references from a number of former colleagues; she had fully cooperated with the SSSC’s investigation and she had demonstrated regret and insight into your behaviour.
The report adds: “The allegations can be considered moderately serious.
“The behaviour includes shouting and physically restraining a vulnerable person, as well as failing to treat that person with respect.
“While this behaviour is capable of being remediated, there was a previous incident of similar behaviour.
“This could be considered as increasing the risk of the behaviour being repeated.
“In terms of public protection, there is a low to moderate risk to the public if your behaviour was to occur again.
“All things considered, the public would have some concern in relation to the behaviour and would expect the SSSC to mark the behaviour as unacceptable in order to ensure that the relevant professional standards are being upheld.”
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