Worker at care home in BBC investigation faces being struck off

A care home worker who was secretly filmed causing distress to an 81-year-old resident with dementia faces being struck off.

A Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) panel has found eight allegations against Amina Sani proven, including that she threatened to call the police after the man became distressed at the prospect of being showered against his will.

Sani denied the allegations, claiming she had not been trained properly and was inexperienced due to it being her first job in the UK.

The incidents at Castlehill Care Home in Inverness last year were filmed by the man's daughter and later featured in a BBC documentary.

In a statement, the home's owner, Morar Living, said it acted promptly when concerns were brought to its attention. It said there was "no truth" in Sani's claim she was not trained properly.

Among the allegations the panel found proven was that Sani told the man: "We will call the police and they will take you to court" or words to that effect.

It also found Sani allowed a male cleaner to hold the resident's arms down and restrain him while she carried out intimate personal care on 10 April last year.

The hearing had earlier heard evidence provided by Morar Living that Sani had done online training courses on dementia awareness, adult support and protection and communication.

The incidents were filmed on a secret camera installed by the resident's daughter, Su Christie, at the home.

The footage later featured in the BBC Disclosure documentary Care Home Undercover.

Christie told the hearing she installed the camera after becoming concerned about her father's care.

She said: "I had numerous concerns regarding his care. I'd had four complaints upheld by the Care Inspectorate already.

"The biggest concern was neglect. He was smelly, he was dirty."

Panel members were shown footage of the bed-bound resident becoming increasingly agitated, swearing and lashing out at being told he was to be showered, while repeatedly saying "no".

Christie, who moved her father out of Castlehill weeks after the footage was recorded, said: "I found it very very distressing. I never thought that people would treat him like that. My confidence was just gone."

The hearing found that in response, Sani said: "I am not your maid. You hit me, I will hit you", or words to that effect.

It ruled that Sani's behaviour caused the resident distress and that she failed to use any de-escalation techniques. It also found that she pulled his duvet off without warning.

A second carer, Oluwabunmi Salami, admitted allegations that she raised and lowered the resident's bed without warning, causing him distress earlier in the hearing.

The SSSC's lawyer, Gary Burton, asked the panel to make a finding of impairment in both cases.

In Sani's case, he said her comments were "threatening in nature" and did not represent respect.

Burton said: "There were a number of threats which were entirely inappropriate and an inappropriate restraint technique.

"It showed a lack of empathy and amounted to potentially harmful treatment of a vulnerable individual.

"This was not a momentary lapse or isolated comment. Despite clear video evidence there have been clear denials. It brings into question the suitability to work in the profession."

Sani's lawyer, Namatirai Chipere, said her client was "thrown in at the deep end quite soon" and had been "failed by the system of social care".

She said: "There has been no proof of an ongoing pattern of disregard, this was an isolated incident. There is no risk of repetition."

She added that her client could take remedial action in terms of her practice.

The hearing will continue its deliberations to establish if Sani and Salami's fitness to practice have been impaired and if any sanctions should be imposed, including the possibility of removal from the SSSC register.

The hearing is expected to continue for several days.

A spokesperson for Morar Living said: "As these matters remain ongoing, we are unable to comment on individual cases.

"However, when concerns were brought to our attention, Morar Highland acted promptly, including suspending employees where appropriate, undertaking formal investigations and taking action in line with the findings.

"We made the relevant referrals to the SSSC and, where required, to the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme."

The spokesperson added: "The safety, dignity and wellbeing of our residents remains our priority, and all concerns regarding staff conduct are taken seriously and acted upon appropriately.

"There is no truth in Amina Sani's claim that she was not trained properly by Morar."