A carer has been banned from working in the industry over a number of abusive jibes – including saying a colleague should eat a salad due to their weight and mocking a resident’s accent.
Audrey Haswell also laughed while deliberately spraying water in a resident’s face while helping them shower.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) criticised Ms Haswell for her behaviour and ruled that her fitness to practise was impaired.
The care watchdog branded the shower incident “abusive and cruel”, adding: “Your behaviour also put [the resident] at risk of physical harm because this could make them fearful to request help with personal care and put their health and wellbeing at risk.
“This behaviour falls far below the acceptable standard of care expected of a social service worker.”
Ms Haswell’s misconduct took place at Parkhouse Manor Care Home in Glasgow between April and October 2022.
On one occasion she was said to have shouted at a colleague in front of other residents in the lounge area.
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In response to another colleague storing food for a co-worker, she reportedly said: “It’s a salad she needs, you seen the size of her.”
Speaking about the same colleague in front of residents and visiting family members in the lounge area, she stated: “We are on with the worst nurse.”
In response to a resident threatening to “batter” her, she replied: “I’ve never been battered before in my life so you can try it.”
Ms Haswell also told another resident “I don’t speak Punjabi or Hindu” and then went on to mock the woman by imitating her accent and speaking nonsensical words.
The SSSC said the behaviour was “racist”.
The watchdog said: “You made racist and derogatory comments about a resident and you mocked [the woman’s] spoken language and accent.
“Your behaviour was racist as well as insulting to a resident of a different cultural background which is unacceptable in any circumstances.”
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Ms Haswell was said to have demonstrated no insight or remorse for her actions, so the watchdog concluded there was a risk of similar behaviour being repeated.
The SSSC said: “You have acted in an emotionally abusive manner towards residents and colleagues.
“You have deliberately sought to cause emotional and physical harm to a vulnerable service user by spraying water on their face.
“Your behaviour, as stated, is fundamentally incompatible with the values of the profession.”
In conclusion, the watchdog said a removal order was the “most appropriate sanction” to maintain the “continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession”.
The removal order came into effect on Thursday.
