Two care home assistants have been suspended from duty and social services called in after the pair posted pictures on Facebook mocking the elderly patients they were supposed to be looking after.
In photographs clearly taken next to the home’s elderly residents, the gurning duo pose with zimmer frames and glasses, and in one shot incontinence pants.
The appalling images were taken in the lounge of Little Acorns care home, Eastbourne, Sussex and the disgraced pair have been identified as staff members Becky Cooper and Natalie Hem
In the first photograph, the girls lean forward on the zimmer frames and make faces.
A second picture clearly shows an elderly patient in the background while one of the women poses for the camera wearing incontinence pants.
If you take a look at the CQCs report on the Care Home it looks like there needs to be a HUGE bloody improvement in a number of areas, I’d love to know why these bitches haven’t been sacked and not just suspended?http://www.cqc.org.uk/directory/1-118939619
Shocked management immediately suspended the pair of pranksters while social services investigate the incident.
Owner Michelle Levett said the staff had been ‘suitably dealt with’ – but insisted that no malice had been intended by the prank
The episode is the unfortunate result of a role playing incident, which has been taken out of context,’ she said.
‘Relatives of the residents of Little Acorns have been contacted with regards to the incident and they are happy with the care and support given to their loved ones by the staff and management.’
The pictures attracted comments when they were posted on the social media site Facebook, but have since been removed. They were then passed to the local newspaper, Sussex Police, social services and the Care Quality Commission.
A spokesperson at East Sussex County Council social services said: ‘All residents of care homes should be treated with dignity and respect.
‘We work closely with our partners in Sussex and have run campaigns urging people to bring safeguarding and abuse issues to our attention.
‘In this case the Care Home has contacted us directly and through the multi-agency safeguarding procedures we will investigate.’
In its most recent inspection of the home, the Care Quality Commission found it was providing a good service.
One resident’s family has already publicly come out in support for the home, describing the staff as ‘caring’.
‘The way it is run and the superb way my husband is cared for is very reassuring for the family,’ the resident’s wife said.
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What makes me think that when we see brainless morons like this looking after our elderly, it’s only the tip of a very large iceberg. So much slips under the radar.
Sandra
I totally agree, If I were the sort of person to use stereotyping I would say that these two supposed care workers were the ones in NEED of care?
It angers me that they have only been suspended, they should of been sacked with immediate effect.
The CQC are bloody useless….
I’ve applied for work in care homes, I used to work for organizations like Friends of the Earth – proper people who keep a holistic approach and that’s the work ethic I would maintain the care sector. Do you think I could get a foot in the door – no. Then I see people like this despicable duo, I’d like to see them kicked out on the butts and directed to the jobcentre where they should be forced to do unpaid work experience.
May I say something? after reading this I think that the two care assistants shouldn’t have done what they did and should have more respect for the elderly residents in the home I was on a YTS placement in a Residential Home for the elderly in 1987 and the staff had a lot of respect and didn’t mock the residents at all
one day they also could be in some care home ,would they like it to happen to them then .we got enough to do getting to that age without idiots taking the pi–
I personally believe these girls were being silly and had no malice, its a problem that girls like this are employed in a place that has no time for teenage/young adult stupidity.
I agree this is very wrong. Care homes need appropriate adult supervision, the residents should be given the adequate dignified care.
Silly girls who are playing dress up and taking photos need be sacked and made examples of.
Its all too easy for the employment for cheap youngsters who dont want to work in such enviroments anyway, i hope the residents and families are given a somewhat dignified result by the sacking of these girls that will be in addition with reassurance that no unprofessional behaviour will be put upon them again.
As for the girls they need learn sillyness is only a fun joke when no one is affected…. Growing up will take its toll soon enough. I honestly believe them harmless and non malicious though.