A CARER has been slapped with a warning after he pinched a dementia patient's nose during the pandemic.

Alexander Mair pinched the vulnerable person's nose to "put him in his place" after the man, known only as AA, hit another worker.

The support worker was employed at Douglas View Care Home in Hamilton when the incident occurred on November 12, 2020.

After a female colleague informed him AA had slapped her, he asked: "Did you not [hit] him back?"

He then leaned over, pinched the man's nose and pointed his finger in his face which contributed to the patient being in a "state of distress".

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Mair then told his colleague: "He can't be hitting people, I had to put him in his place."

An investigation by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) described the incident as an "abuse of trust".

A report stated: "Social service workers are trusted to care for the most vulnerable members of society. They must protect them insofar as possible from harm and not abuse or neglect them.

"You abused resident AA by pointing in his face and pinching his nose, at a time when AA was already showing distressed behaviour. Your behaviour caused further distress to AA and put AA at a serious risk of emotional and physical harm.

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"Social service workers are expected to communicate in an appropriate, open, accurate and straightforward way ... The behaviour in this case is serious. It involves a failure by you to provide an acceptable level of care to AA."

However, the report also found Mair had apologised for his actions, there has been no repeat of the incident and a positive reference was provided by his employer.

It added: "Any repeat of the behaviour could place vulnerable people at risk. However, you have shown insight and remorse for your actions.

"You have completed training on dementia care – communication and dealing with distress. You have advised what you would do differently and how you have changed your approach on how you handle these situations."

Mair was placed on a warning for 36 months.