A CARER who shouted in the face of a vulnerable patient and took away a plate of food has been placed on a warning.

Aileen O'Connor was a support worker for the individual, known only as AA, in Wishaw when the incidents occurred last year.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said around April 18 last year O'Connor when she shouted in the woman's face: "Where is that getting you?"

O'Connor went on to remove her dinner plate when the patient was still eating and restrain her by holding her hands down when she was showing signs of self-harm, contrary to the patient's support plan.

On unknown dates, the SSSC said O'Conner used a vape in a AA's home and remove a cup of coffee from her hands while she was still drinking.

On August 5, 2021, O'Connor took AA's wheelchair without her consent.

The SSSC said the behaviour showed a lack of "respect" for the patient.

A report said: "You also removed a plate of food and a cup of coffee from AA while AA was still eating and drinking, demonstrating a lack of dignity and respect towards AA’s autonomy.

"Additionally, you used vapes while within AA’s home. In doing this, you have not treated the AA with respect or maintained AA’s dignity.

"Finally, you removed an item of equipment from AA’s home. While you did replace this item once you had finished with it, you did not ask permission to borrow the item. Your behaviour falls short of what would be expected of a social care worker."

The regulatory body found O'Connor's actions were not "malicious" and she had cooperated with the investigation.

It added: "The allegations can be considered moderately serious. The behaviour includes shouting and physically restraining a vulnerable person, as well as failing to treat that person with respect.

"While this behaviour is capable of being remediated, there was a previous incident of similar behaviour. "This could be considered as increasing the risk of the behaviour being repeated."

O'Connor was placed on a warning period of six months.