The deputy health and disability commissioner criticized the residential care employee for failing to intervene when a patient self-harmed. (File image)
Photo: 123RF

A support worker who verbally abused and spat at a disabled woman in his care has been ordered to apologize to his victim.

The residential care employee was also criticized by the Deputy Commissioner for Health and Disability for failing to intervene when she self-harmed.

The mistreatment came to light when a complaint was made to the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) alleging the violation of the woman’s rights by being recorded without her consent.

“The woman lived in a residential disability care setting and had multiple complex social and mental health disorders that could manifest in challenging behaviors and actions,” the HDC said in a statement on Monday.

“Interactions between her and the support worker at the center of the investigation, where the support worker could be heard verbally abusing her and spitting at her, were video recorded.”

The content of the video sparked an investigation into the support worker’s actions.

“The complaint may never have come to the attention of this office if it had not come to light in another complaints investigation,” said Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Rose Wall.

“I consider this complaint to be important as it raises concerns about the verbal abuse of a long-standing support worker towards a vulnerable dually disabled consumer with challenging behavior in residential care.”

Wall of roses.
Photo: LANCE LAWSON / SUPPLIED

Wall said the video showed the support worker provoking and insulting the woman “which amounted to serious disrespect” and failing to intervene when she was self-harming.

“There were many options available for (the worker) to intervene, including talking to (the woman), employing de-escalation techniques he had learned in nonviolent crisis intervention training, and/or asking for help. He did not attempt any of those actions or any other type of intervention.”

Wall said she was “horrified” and that “under no circumstances” would his behavior be acceptable.

It was determined that the worker violated rights one and three of the Health and Disability Services Consumer Rights Code: not treating her with respect or dignity.

Wall recommended the worker, who was no longer employed at the facility, formally apologize and that any future employers subject him to “training on how to treat consumers with respect and dignity and how to manage relationships/communicate with people who “show challenging behaviors.” behavior”.

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