'Bullying matron played CIA prank to scare care home patient'
23rd January 2008
Accused: Maureen Sheikh allegedly posed as a CIA agent to terrify a paranoid patient.
A care home matron and her staff posed as CIA agents to scare a paranoid resident in a campaign of vicious practical jokes, a hearing was told today.
Maureen Sheikh, 58, also formed a mock "jazz band" with staff and banged pots and pans to upset a mentally-ill man who was distressed by noise, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard.
Sheikh, who was the matron in charge of St Mary's Nursing Home in Church Chase, Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham for 11 years, was sacked in September 2007 for gross misconduct.
Hannah Capgras, for the NMC, told the hearing how Sheikh had encouraged staff to participate in a bullying campaign for fun.
"These are serious allegations of psychological harm over a long period of time," she said.
One of the residents, referred to as Resident A, suffered from paranoia and became a target for Sheikh, Ms Capgras said.
"He believed he was being followed by the CIA.
"The registrant organized staff to dress up as members of the CIA, and thought it was funny when he reacted in a distressed state," she said.
One of the members of staff, who sent written evidence to the panel, said Sheikh had run around outside the resident's window at night, "making noises."
Another resident, referred to as Resident D, became agitated and abusive when noise disturbed him, Ms Capgras said.
During the broadcast of the "Britain's Got Talent" in the summer of 2007, Sheikh and her staff decided to form what they referred to as a "jazz band" to torment him, the panel heard.
"She and fellow members of staff made makeshift instruments of pots and pans.
"Noise triggered both verbal and physical agitation from Resident D, and the registrant and the staff were aware of this," said Ms Capgras.
There was an announcement on the home's tanoy that the "jazz band" would be playing, and the staff went through the home and up to Resident D's room, said Ms Capgras.
"They noisily played their 'jazz band' through the dining room where he was causing him to be agitated, abusive and aggressive.
"They sent the jazz band to the office and proceeded to make a terrible noise.
"They went up to the first floor and played outside his bedroom and inside his bedroom," she said.
Sheikh also bullied two more residents, Ms Capgras said.
Resident B, an elderly woman with mental and physical disabilities, was a target because she believed she had an imaginary boyfriend, the panel heard.
"The registrant would tell her a fellow service user was having an affair with him, to antagonize both of them," Mrs Capgras said.
The last victim, Resident C, also had mental health problems and would throw water on staff when she became agitated.
Sheikh would often wind her up until this happened for her own amusement, it is claimed.
In addition to abusing residents, Sheikh is also said to have bullied staff members and discouraged "whistle-blowing" or the procedure where staff could report abuse in the home.
"Staff felt intimidated by her and felt they couldn't report incidents of malpractice," said Mrs Capgras.
"On the occasions when they did, the registrant would make badges saying 'grass' on them, and staff would wear them."
But after the "jazz band" incident a staff member wrote an anonymous letter to the home's owners complaining about Sheikh.
The managers interviewed all the staff and suspended Sheikh on August 13.
A disciplinary hearing was scheduled for September 5 but Sheikh claimed she was too ill to attend.
It was postponed until September 20, but Sheikh again failed to turn up claiming she was stressed.
She was dismissed in her absence for gross misconduct.
Sheikh, a mother-of-two whose husband is a doctor, told the panel that all the allegations were fabricated.
"She continued in her quiet way despite the bullying because she loved the home and the work,' said Ms Ewins.
"She enjoyed it and did not wish to give way to this bullying."
Sheikh admitted there had been a "jazz band", but said she is the victim of a misunderstanding - saying it was only an impromptu "bit of fun" which most of the residents enjoyed.
She said they had not played in Resident D's room, and they had stopped when he came out and shouted at them.
"It was after the TV programme. I didn't stop to think the gentleman concerned was present.
"When we realized we stopped. The other residents enjoyed it and were clapping," she said.
Sheikh, who denies the allegations, will now be free to work as a nurse while the NMC investigate her case.
Chair of the panel Eileen Pollock said: "The panel decided that a suspension order is not necessary for the protection of the public."
The nurse will now face a full hearing on a date to be fixed.
SOURCE: Daily Mail UK
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