Ballachulish care worker struck off by social services council

A CARE assistant employed at the Abbeyfield home in Ballachulish has been struck off after physically and verbally abusing residents.

A Scottish Social Services Council panel decided Maya Manalova’s fitness to practice was impaired, as defined under council rules, and removed her from its register for practitioners in a care home service for adults.

A council report said there was sufficient evidence to show that on or around August 21 last year, at Abbeyfield Ballachulish (Care Home) in Ballachulish, Manalova pushed and pulled one of the residents, causing injury and distress; referred to the female resident when speaking to another member of staff in abusive terms, within the resident’s presence, and raised her voice to another resident.

The panel said residents had the right to expect to be treated with dignity and respect and that the care they receive from social service workers, in whom they place their trust and confidence, will protect them from harm, adding: ‘Your behaviour was a misuse of the power and trust placed in you as a social service worker and represents a complete misunderstanding of the fundamental relationship between social services workers and residents.

‘It is in the public interest because the allegations call into question your fitness to practise as a social service worker. Given the allegations against you, we are not currently satisfied that your fitness to practise is not impaired.

‘The allegations are extremely serious. You have behaved in a physically and verbally abusive manner towards vulnerable service users. The behaviour is not easily remediable and there is little evidence on your part of any insight, regret or acknowledgement of wrong-doing on your part.’

The panel said Manalova had not provided sufficient reassurance that such behaviour was not likely to be repeated and it was of the view she would pose an on-going risk to vulnerable residents if a finding of no current impairment was made. The Scot- tish Social Services Council was created in 2001 by the then Scottish Executive to protect people who use services, raise standards of practice and strengthen and support the professionalism of the workforce.

Having been advised of the consequences, and recommended to take legal advice, Manalova admitted the facts and that her fitness to practice was impaired, and she accepted the order removing her from the register last month.

According to the Abbeyfield Society’s website, its Ballachulish home offers a range of accommodation – supported housing, nursing care and independent living – for 32 older people. Adjoining the property are nine supported housing apartments where tenants can live independently or, if they choose, use facilities offered in the main home.

Asked by the Lochaber Times if he wished to make a statement in response to the Scottish Social Services Council panel’s findings and decision, Abbeyfield Ballachulish office manager Dominic Duffy said the charity did not wish to comment at this time.