County Durham care home worker guilty of assault

A CARE worker used a mentally handicapped patient’s shoe to hit her in the face, a court has heard.

Phoebe Lorraine Smith, 54, was the key worker for 23-year-old Deborah Thomas, a resident at Redworth House Care Home, in Shildon, County Durham, when the assault took place on April 11.

After hitting Miss Thomas, Smith, who uses her middle name, said: “You didn’t expect that, did you?”

Miss Thomas has severe learning difficulties and epilepsy and has a mental age of a seven or eight-year-old.

A trial at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard how on the day of the assault Smith, of Dale Road, Shildon, had taken Miss Thomas for a walk with two other care home residents and two members of staff – Julie Ross and Janice Gallant.

However, Miss Thomas began to misbehave by biting and nipping and on several occasions sat down on the ground and refused to get up.

Staff returned to Redworth House, which is operated by Southern Cross Healthcare.

As they were getting in to the lift, Miss Thomas sat down and kicked off her shoe as Smith and Miss Ross struggled to get her to her feet. As they entered the lift, Smith slapped Miss Thomas across the face, making her cry.

Smith claimed she stumbled and hit Miss Thomas by accident.

Giving evidence, Miss Ross said: “I saw her (Smith) make contact with Deborah’s face.”

“I went home and was quite shocked – I was awake all night thinking about it because it shouldn’t have happened.”

Miss Ross and Mrs Gallant reported the incident to their manager, Marie Gibson, who examined Miss Thomas but could not find any injuries, or marks. Smith was suspended following the incident.

Smith claimed there were not enough staff to cope with Miss Thomas while they were out of the home and that she did not have sufficient training to care for her.

Joanne Elliott, area manager for Southern Cross Healthcare, said: “All staff at Redworth House receive training and support in line with Southern Cross policy.

“There are strict internal procedures in place to protect our residents and our staff.”

Craig Hunn, mitigating, said: “Care workers and their like must be the only job in the country where you can be expected to be bitten, scratched, nipped and punched and just take it. This doesn’t justify what happened, but might give an explanation as to why she (Smith) had a momentary lapse of control.”

Magistrates found Smith guilty of assault and recommended a community order.

The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports.