An Ayrshire care home worker who uttered disparaging remarks to a resident after they soiled their bed has been sanctioned by the industry regulator.
Fiona Crawford held up the resident’s bedsheet and was adjudged to have said: “Look at the state of this. This is your s***e.”
Crawford’s outburst took place on or around July 2, 2024, while employed as a care assistant for Atlantic View Care Home Limited, Ayr.
And industry regulator, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said her fitness to practise was “impaired” because of “misconduct.”
As a result they placed a warning on Crawford’s registration for a period of 12 months, effective from October 29.
The resident at the centre of the incident is only known as ’AA’ to protect their identity.
In their notice of decision the SSSC told Crawford: “Social service workers are expected to work with kindness, compassion and respect. Social service workers are expected to maintain the dignity of individuals in their care. They are expected to communicate in a respectful, open, accurate and straightforward way.
“They are expected to be reliable and dependable and not behave in a way which would call into question their suitability to work in social services.”
The report goes on: “While providing care to a vulnerable individual you (Crawford) held up AA’s soiled bedsheet and stated ‘look at this, this is your s***e’ or words to that effect. Your behaviour is very serious. You are an experienced registered social service worker, who has been registered with the SSSC since June 2019 and you should have been aware of the standards expected of you.
“People who use services are entitled to feel safe and confident that social service workers will treat them with kindness, compassion and respect in their own environment.
“Your (Crawford’s) actions had the potential to negatively impact the reputation of the social service profession.”
The SSSC also said Crawford’s behaviour “fell below the standards” expected of a registered social service worker.
The report goes on: “Your behaviour has shown a disregard for the SSSC Codes of Practice. Your actions breached the trust and confidence placed in you by your employer, and the SSSC as your regulator.”
The SSSC noted that it was an “isolated incident” and there was “no previous pattern” of concerning behaviour. They also took into account Crawford’s “good previous history” with the SSSC. She co-operated with the SSSC investigation too.
However, the SSSC also claimed Crawford did not show any “meaningful insight, reflection, apology or regret” for her actions.
The report adds: “The public would expect the SSSC to make a finding of impairment to your fitness to practise to mark that conduct of this nature, by a registered social service worker, is unacceptable and must not happen again.”
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