A SENIOR support worker has been placed on a three-year warning after telling colleagues at a Johnstone care home not to feed a patient and refusing to let her leave her room as a “punishment.”

Catherine Millar prevented the vulnerable woman from leaving her room at Beechmount care home all night by verbally directing her back when there was no reason to do so.

She also instructed co-workers not to offer the woman supper at 9pm and told them she took “great delight" in sending her to her bedroom.

READ MORE: Woman convicted of abusing vulnerable pensioner at care home

Beechmount, in Ulundi Road, supports people with learning disabilities and behavioural needs.

However, Millar told the woman that staff were “sick" of working with her and warned her: “Sit down or you are going back upstairs.”

The incidents took place between April 14 and 15 last year, with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) ruling that Millar's behaviour showed her fitness to practise was impaired.

A report into her conduct described the actions of Millar towards the patient, known only as 'AA,' as “serious."

The SSSC told Millar: “You refused to allow a service user out of their bedroom and refused to allow AA food as a form of punishment.

“Furthermore, you made several derogatory comments towards AA and to your colleagues about AA.

“The behaviour demonstrates an attitudinal problem at odds with the expectation of a social services worker.

“AA was put at risk of emotional harm as a result of your behaviour.”

It added: “There are public protection concerns due to the seriousness of the behaviour.

“Social service workers should protect and promote the rights and interests of people who use services.

“It was abusive and put AA at risk of emotional harm. It demonstrated a misuse of power and your behaviour was likely to cause AA distress.

“Furthermore, your communication was verbally abusive and was likely to cause AA fear alarm and distress.”

Millar, who has been a support worker since 2001, was placed on a three-year warning and ordered to provide reflective accounts discussing inappropriate interventions to the SSSC within three months, as well as an account detailing the impact of her actions and why she will not repeat her mistakes.

She was fired from her role at Beechmount, which is run by Voyage Care.

Brian Flynn, managing director for Voyage Care in Scotland, said the firm takes the responsibility of supporting some of the most vulnerable people in society "extremely seriously."

READ MORE: Joy for brave Rebecca McKenna after youngster is given all-clear

He added: “For this reason, and in accordance with our statutory and legal responsibilities, as soon as we were made aware of the allegations at Beechmount, we were duty bound to immediately inform the Care Inspectorate and Scottish Social Services Council.

“We were appalled to discover this behaviour and apologise to all affected by this individual’s actions.

“Our team took swift and affirmative action, resulting in the individual being immediately suspended and subsequently dismissed and referred to Disclosure Scotland.

“The safety and wellbeing of the people we support is always our priority and ensuring we have the right teams in place is crucial to achieving this.”

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond