A CARE home worker has been struck off after pushing an elderly resident.

Joanne Docherty, who was employed as a care assistant at Ranfurly Care Home, in Johnstone, was also slammed by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) for speaking inappropriately to the OAP.

A SSSC hearing into Docherty’s conduct was told the resident, who was referred to as ‘BB,’ suffered from dementia, had difficulties with mobility and was at risk of falling.

Docherty was also accused of shouting at another resident, referred to as ‘AA,’ that he was not getting any more tea because he had spilled his.

She was also said to have repeatedly refused to assist resident AA when he was lying uncomfortably and asking for help.

In a report detailing why Docherty was being struck off, the SSSC stated: “On the facts found proved, your conduct fell short of the standards of character, conduct and competence necessary for you to do your job safely and effectively.

“In acting as you did towards BB, you failed to treat him with dignity and respect; communicate with him in an appropriate way; recognise and use responsibly the power that came from your work.

“By pushing BB and speaking to him in a derogatory manner, you have acted abusively, causing distress to him and created unnecessary risk of physical and emotional harm to him.”

In relation to AA, the panel added: “By failing to attend AA and by speaking to him repeatedly in a derogatory manner, you behaved abusively towards AA, exposing him to a risk of physical and emotional harm.

“By disregarding your colleague alerting you to AA’s calls for help and his discomfort, you have failed to work openly and co-operatively with colleagues and treating them with respect.”

The panel concluded that Docherty failed to be a reliable social service worker and meet relevant standards of practice.

It concluded that she “failed to work in a safe and effective way” and behaved in a manner that would “call into question her suitability to work in social services.”

Ranfurly Care Home, in Quarrelton Road, accommodates 60 residents, 15 in each of its four units.

The residents are adults who have a variety of needs, including dementia.

The incidents involving Docherty took place between July 2, 2015, and June 28, 2016.

Rachel Dryden, chief executive officer at Silverline Care, which runs the care home, said: “The safety, care and wellbeing of residents is paramount to us and we focus on providing high-quality care in all of our homes.

“As soon as we became aware of allegations of misconduct against an individual member of staff, we immediately followed all necessary measures and took all required steps to ensure it was dealt with in the correct way.”