A care home assistant has been struck-off after hitting an empathy doll and causing distress to a resident living with dementia.

Paula Lambert was struck off at a hearing on 25 November by the Scottish Social Services Council following the incident on 15 November 2019 at HC-One’s Redmill Nursing Home in Bathgate, West Lothian.

The SSSC said Lambert, who was also found to have thrown the doll on the floor on at least one occasion and forcefully poked it in the face, told colleagues: “I do it all the time, it’s funny.”

In making its decision, the SSSC told Lambert: “Your behaviour falls below the standards expected of workers and calls into question your suitability to work as part of the social services profession.”

A spokesperson for Redmill said: “As The Kind Care company, we treat all our residents with the utmost respect, and we do not tolerate the kind of distressing behaviour exhibited by this individual, who no longer works for HC-One in any capacity.

“At the time of this historic incident, we took immediate action, referring the incident to the SSSC and all relevant authorities ourselves. We have worked closely with them throughout their ongoing inquiries.

“We support the decision of the SSSC to issue a removal order, and we will always support action being taken to protect the dignity and wellbeing of older people in care.”