Nurse made 'sexual gestures' to care home resident

A senior care home nurse who danced "provocatively" and made "sexual gestures" in front of a resident has been barred from the profession.

Marina Stocks was drunk when she began "touching her breasts" and dancing in front of the resident at Ravensdale Care Home in Whinmoor, Leeds, a tribunal was told.

She then became abusive towards colleagues, swearing at them and elderly residents when she was challenged about her behaviour.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel said Stocks, who resigned shortly after the incident on 21 April 2023, had to be struck off the nursing register to "maintain confidence" in the profession.

Papers from the tribunal, which Mrs Stocks did not attend, told how "while dancing and singing" in front of a resident in a lounge she "became more expressive and began to behave in an inappropriate manner".

It was said that she was "observed dancing provocatively, including touching her breasts, and making sexual gestures" towards the resident.

After being asked about her behaviour by the home's manager, Mrs Stocks replied that she was "only trying to have a laugh" and, using an expletive, branded her colleagues "miserable".

The nurse was then allowed to return to work, but swore at one of the colleagues who had reported her actions and was then later seen drinking a bottle of wine through the window of a staff room.

After being sent home because she was deemed unfit to work, Mrs Stocks was abusive to the manager and returned to the lounge where she "shouted and swore at the staff and residents present".

She formally resigned shortly afterwards and later retired from nursing.

The NMC said concerns had been raised previously about the nurse's behaviour while employed at Ravensdale, including occasions where she was seen "lying down next to residents in their beds".

During the investigation into her conduct, further claims were brought that Mrs Stocks had failed to administer medication to residents on four occasions during a previous job at another Leeds care home, in May 2021.

Her actions left the residents at "unwarranted risk of serious harm" it was said.

According to the tribunal, Stocks admitted all allegations and accepted her actions amounted to "serious professional misconduct".

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