A SCOTS carer has been given a warning after finding a vulnerable care user on the floor and leaving him there for hours.
Aimee Deakin turned up at the man’s home in Elgin, Moray for a morning visit in June 2021 to find him laying on the ground.
Instead of getting him up or making sure there was additional help, Deakin completed her visit and left – without moving him.
The man was then left in the same spot on his own for approximately two hours and 30 minutes.
Deakin, who was employed by CERA Care Operations (Scotland) Limited at the time, said she asked the man if he needed help at the time but he declined.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) today found her fitness to practise to be impaired as she did not seek assistance and left him where she found him.
The SSSC said: “Social service workers are entrusted to provide care to vulnerable people in their own homes.
“During the morning visit you found AA on the floor. You asked AA who has capacity if he needed assistance and he declined.
“As part of your duties, you were expected to seek assistance for AA after finding AA on the floor. You concluded your visit while AA was still on the floor.
“No physical harm was caused to AA as a result of your behaviour although there was a risk of harm.
“Your behaviour does raise public protection issues due to risk of physical and emotional harm to AA.
“Furthermore, the seriousness of the behaviour requires that the SSSC mark it as unacceptable to ensure that appropriate standards are maintained and also maintaining public confidence in the profession.”
Deakin was also found to have claimed she had visited another care user on a separate occasion when she hadn’t.
The care worker was found to have shown remorse and regret for her actions.
She also apologised to the care user that she left on the ground.
On making their decision, the SSSC concluded: “We decided the appropriate sanction is to place a warning on your registration for a period of nine months.”
