A Dundee care worker who locked dementia patients in their rooms has been given a warning by a regulator.
Fiona Caithness faced a hearing from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) over the allegations.
The watchdog found she carried out the acts while working as a care assistant at Pitkerro Care Centre, run by Hudson Healthcare, where she cared for people with advanced dementia.
Multiple residents locked in rooms
A report from the hearing found that on at least one occasion between January and August 2021, care worker Fiona Caithness locked multiple residents in their bedrooms for an unknown period of time.
She did it again on or around August 9 and 10 that year.
The SSSC says by doing this, she exposed the residents involved to “unnecessary and serious risk of physical and emotional harm” and an increased risk of “emotional
distress”.
Public protection concerns
It was also found she “failed to respect the residents’ dignity and individuality”.
The SSSC says she did not think of the possible consequences of her actions.
The report added: “There are public protection concerns that arise as a result of your conduct.
“Any repeat of such behaviour could place residents and the public at an increased risk of harm.
“For example, had there been a fire within the service during the time when residents were locked in their room, the consequences could have been extremely serious.”
The SSSC also said it came as part of “a pattern of concerning behaviour”.
[Her actions] were… a misguided attempt to ensure that residents were not disturbed while they were sleeping
Caithness admitted her behaviour and was given a warning, which will stay on her record for two years.
The report says she “expressed insight, regret and apology” for her actions which were described as “not malicious, but were a misguided attempt to ensure that residents were not disturbed while they were sleeping”.
A Hudson Healthcare spokesperson said: “The wellbeing of our residents is always of paramount concern.
“Upon our identification of the event in question, we immediately carried out an investigation which resulted in our dismissal of the staff member concerned, and reported her misconduct to the SSSC.
“We are pleased to see that, following our report, the SSSC has taken action which will help to protect safeguarding standards across the industry.
“This was an isolated case, and we thank our staff for their vigilance and swift action in working with the SSSC to ensure that our high standards of care continue to be provided to everyone that we can.”
Caithness declined to comment when approached by The Courier.
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