Care home worker facing ‘fitness to practise’ panel

CUPAR: Nursing auxiliary accused of ‘unacceptable attitude’ towards people in her care

A Cupar care home worker is facing the prospect of sanctions amid claims she left an elderly resident soaked in urine.

Fhiona Dorrans, from Cupar, is to appear before a Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) panel hearing at the end of this month to answer three allegations that have brought her fitness to practise into question.

The three charges relate to her employment as a nursing auxiliary at Pitlair House Nursing Home in Bow of Fife between December 7 and 13 2016.

Ms Dorrans is alleged to have displayed an “unacceptable attitude” during the course of a social event on or around December 7, when it is claimed she told a colleague “I hate evenings such as this” and “it may be a good night for the residents but not for the staff on duty”, or words to that effect.

In the same incident, it is claimed Ms Dorrans told her colleague, residents and residents’ family members in relation to food offered “yuck, I would never eat that” or words to that effect.

A further allegation states that on or around December 7 2016 Ms Dorrans failed to change a resident’s bedding which was soaked with urine, told a colleague that she had changed the bedding, told a colleague that she had changed the resident’s nightdress when that was not the case, and failed to change the resident’s “Kylie” bed pad/ sheet.

She is also accused of recording on the resident’s care chart she had provided personal care with the assistance of her colleague when that was not the case, and that her actions in doing so had been dishonest.

The third allegation states on or around December 13, during a disciplinary hearing, Ms Dorrans said a colleague had discussed the social event incident in the reception area of Pitlair House when this was not the case; a visitor had overheard the conversation when this was not the case; and that the visitor had contacted a man Ms Dorrans referred to as her “uncle”, a GP, and reported the conversation Ms Dorrans had with her colleague, which was not the case.

It is also alleged that the man Ms Dorrans referred to had informed her mother, which was not the case.

Care workers are deemed fit to practise if they meet the standards of character, conduct and competence necessary for them to do their job safely and effectively with regard to the Code of Practice for Social Service Workers and the Code of Practice for Employers of Social Service Workers.

The panel will first decide if the allegations are proved, then if they are proved, whether or not Ms Dorrans is fit to practise.

The panel will also decide what sanctions, if any, should be placed on her registration if she is deemed unfit to practise.

It may be a good night for the residents but not for the staff