AN ALEXANDRIA-based support worker in a care home for adults has been sanctioned by the Scottish Social Services Council for breaching her standard of care towards a service user.

Marion Singh was deemed to have been at fault on two separate occasions at Balquhidder Care Home, Alexandria, on February 25 2016 and March 9 2016.

The allegations against Singh claimed that, on February 25 last year, she failed to place a buzzer within reach of a service user, only known as 'Resident A' and failed to record her checks on Resident A on a Resident Safety Check Sheet at 12.30pm and 1pm- and only did so after 1.10pm or "thereabouts."

It was further alleged that on or around March 9 2016, when another colleague had absented herself from work, Singh left her workplace during her shift "without authorisation" and, in light of her actions, her fitness to practise was "impaired" because of "misconduct."

At a hearing of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) a panel took account of her "positive reference" from her new employer in relation to her practise and conduct, Singh "co-operated" with the SSSC’s investigation, she had a "good history" with the SSSC and she "completed additional training" and "reflection" in relation to health and safety.

However, the SSSC claimed that Singh's behaviour constituted a "risk to service users."

In a published written judgement the SSSC said: "Residents have the right to expect that the care they receive from social service workers, in whom they place their trust and confidence, will protect them from harm.

"A failure to provide a resident with a call bell, to summon assistance from staff, constitutes a breach of the trust and confidence placed in you (Singh) by residents, who may be at risk of harm.

"Residents have the right to have trust and confidence that social service workers will record information appropriately.

"Competent, accurate and up-to-date recording of information is essential to the quality, delivery and safety of social services.

"Your failure to timeously record the checks you had carried out on Resident A constituted a breach of these duties."

The judgement also focussed on her decision to leave work without authorisation, saying: "Residents have the right to expect reliability, dependability and consistency from social service workers.

"By leaving your place of work during a shift without authorisation, you compromised the safety, quality and reliability of the care being provided, thus breaching the trust and confidence of residents, failing in your duty of care and placing residents and others at risk of harm."

As a result a warning was placed on Singh's record and will be in place for the next nine months.

Within three months of the warning coming into effect, Singh must submit to the SSSC a "reflective account" the content of which must be to the satisfaction of the SSSC and that the reflective account should specifically address why leaving her workplace without authorisation represented a "disregard" for organisational policies and procedures and how her leaving "impacted on colleagues and people" who were being supported.

In her reflective account Singh must also demonstrate what she should do when she feels a "conflict or dilemma" is preventing her from carrying out her role.

Colin Corstorphine, director at Balquhidder Care Ltd, confirmed that Singh was no longer employed by them.

He said: “As part of our robust quality assurance and staff management processes, it was identified that this staff member was falling short of our standards, she was subject to disciplinary action as per our procedures and is now no longer with the company, her actions were reported to the appropriate regulatory bodies."

He added: “Balquhidder Care Home provides first class care in a quality environment and we hold staff accountable to the very high standards. Balquhidder provides quality care and currently has grades of 5 with the Care Inspectorate and has done since opening two years ago.”