A Dundee care worker described as “menacing” has been struck off following several complaints about his behaviour towards residents.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) found that Derek Phinn was guilty of seven charges which, it said, impaired his ability to work in the profession.
The charges all related to his time working at four separate care homes in 2017.
These include Ballumbie Court, Harestane and South Grange – all in Dundee – along with Moss Park in Fort William.
The panel found that, while working at Ballumbie Court, Phinn had “covertly administered medication” to a resident – which included crumbling medication into their tea because they had refused to take it.
Phinn also incorrectly administered medication at the Harestane and South Grange homes.
Colleague describes Phinn as ‘menacing’
It was further proved that Phinn had been “verbally and/or physically aggressive” towards a resident.
The panel heard from a colleague who had witnessed Phinn pushing a wheelchair-using resident across the room at South Grange.
In her evidence she described Phinn as “quite menacing”.
Phinn was also found guilty of failing to check a resident who had fallen out of bed, issues with administering medication orally or with a syringe, and being verbally and/or physically aggressive towards a colleague.
The panel said that “patients were put at risk of physical and emotional harm as a result of Mr Phinn’s misconduct”.
‘Nothing to suggest he was remorseful’
They added: “In addition to repeated medicines management and administration issues, repeated drug errors, the failure to escalate a patient to the GP, there was evidence before the panel of unacceptable behaviour.
“It has been found proven that Mr Phinn was verbally and physically aggressive.”
The panel also said there was nothing to “suggest that Mr Phinn was at all remorseful”.
Ballumbie Court and Moss Park are both managed by healthcare company HC-One.
A spokeswoman for HC-One said the firm “welcome the decision” by the NMC.
Families informed about allegations
She said: “When HC-One colleagues first raised their concerns about the individual, we immediately contacted the external agency which employed this individual to file a complaint and specified that they were not to return to our homes.
“We followed all necessary procedures, including notifying the relevant authorities as soon as we were aware of their behaviour, and we informed the families of all residents affected.
“We will always take action against anyone who falls short of the values and high standards we expect and residents rightly deserve.”
‘Immediate action’ when claims came to light
A spokeswoman for Barchester Healthcare, which runs South Grange, said: “At South Grange care home we expect and deliver the highest standards of care.
“Mr Phinn worked only very briefly at South Grange, four years ago and when the issues came to light, we took immediate action.
“Following our last Care Inspectorate Inspection we were rated grade five – very good.”
Priority Care, which manages Harestane, has been approached for comment.