An employment tribunal has ruled that a Senior Officer at a Dundee care home was correctly found guilty of gross misconduct and upholds the decision to dismiss her.
Janice McMeekin, a Senior Care Officer at Magdalen House, a home for adults with learning disabilities, was initially suspended on full pay in February 2011 after it was revealed that she allowed a staff member who had turned up drunk, to stay in the sleepover room rather than send her home.
Following an investigation, Miss McMeekin was given a formal written warning to remain on her file for a year.
Shortly after that warning had expired, evidence emerged that she had not applied creams to the feet of a female resident which she was supposed to do.
In the wake of this, evidence arose that she had not properly applied prescribed ointment to the eyes of a male resident and after three more cases came to light, senior management stepped in and spoke to Miss McMeekin.
She denied failing to apply the ointments and claimed that the other staff ”had it in for her.”
It was revealed that it was put to her that she may have difficulty applying the ointments, which was suggested with the aim of giving her an ”out,” and which would have allowed her to be given support and assistance, but she said she was fine and could manage her job.
Two further issues arose regarding medication administered by Miss McMeekin, and she was asked to attend a disciplinary meeting in March 2012.
At the meeting she claimed that those who had said she did not administer the ointments were lying, but did admit to having problems with her eyesight and varifocal glasses.
Priority Care Group Manager Linda Cuthill, who carried out the disciplinary hearing, concluded that Miss McMeekin was guilty of not applying the creams and this was seriously detrimental to the clients’ health.
As a result, Miss McMeekin’s behaviour was placed in the category of gross misconduct and she was dismissed.