North Lanarkshire carer left resident's face bleeding after scratching them with nails

A carer who left a vulnerable resident with four facial lacerations after scratching their face has been struck off.

Sandra Wright was employed as a support worker at a home in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire when the incident took place.

Sometime on or around September 18, 2021, a resident at the facility – known as AA to protect their identity – pulled Wright’s hair.

In response, the carer scratched AA’s face with her nails, leaving the vulnerable adult with four deep, bleeding wounds.

A hearing of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) noted that the injury sustained would require “a significant level of force to inflict”.

It said that the carer’s actions had left AA “scared and unsafe” in a place they should be protected from harm.

Additionally, the day before, when AA tried to take biscuits off another resident’s plate – with permission – Wright threw the biscuits out a window and said “the birds will get them”.

The watchdog said: “This behaviour raises concerns about how you react to difficult situations and is at odds with the type of response expected from someone in a professional, caring role.”

It added that Wright had “failed to respect the resident by taking the biscuits they wanted to eat away from them and throwing them out of the window in front of them”.

The final incident reviewed by the SSSC occurred on or around June 2020, when Wright told another resident (BB) that he was “smelly”, and when BB refused personal care, she responded “well you’ll be smelly then”.

The council found her actions in these instances to be physically and emotionally abusive, and suggesting a “disregard for the feelings and wellbeing of vulnerable residents”.

Wright apologised for scratching AA, and expressed deep remorse for her actions – however, the SSSC said the incident was “so serious” that it had to be addressed appropriately.

She also claimed that she had only thrown the biscuits out as another resident had put them in their mouth, but failed to show any insight into why throwing them away in front of AA had caused them distress.

“We consider that you present an ongoing risk to public protection.,” the council concluded.

Sandra Wright’s fitness to practise was found impaired, and her registration with the SSSC was struck off effective April 20.