A South Australian respite carer has denied knowing a severely disabled teenage girl, who died after choking on a latex glove, had a fixation with putting such items in her mouth.
Community support worker Sandeep Mangat has given evidence at the inquest into the death of 16-year-old Sophia Nisco in 2017.
The girl, who had cerebral palsy and other serious health issues, was found on the bathroom floor of a respite home in Adelaide and could not be revived.
During resuscitation attempts, paramedics removed a glove from her throat.
Ms Mangat told the inquiry on Tuesday that she was aware that Sophia would grab at food and try to put it in her mouth and that she might try to do the same with other items such as toys.
But she told deputy state coroner Anthony Schapel that she was not aware of a particular issue with latex gloves or balloons.
She also rejected suggestions that Sophia's mother had raised her concerns about gloves and balloons at a staff meeting about a month before the girl died.
In her evidence on Monday, Nella Nisco said she had emphasised her daughter's fascination with gloves and balloons at that meeting.
She said she had also indicated that whenever Sophia was out of her secure wheelchair she needed to be supervised at all times with one-on-one care.
Ms Nisco disputed assertions from counsel for the respite home that she was mistaken in her recollections.
Outside the court on Tuesday, Sophia's father Vince Nisco said his daughter had been attending the respite home regularly for about two years and for the most part the care provided had been good.
But Mr Nisco said he hoped the inquest would lead to staff being given clearer instructions on the care required for some high-needs children.
"Unfortunately it doesn't look like there was clarity in how to perform their jobs for certain clients," he said.
The inquest was continuing.
Australian Associated Press
