Care home worker struck off after borrowing 拢90 from resident
The Scottish Social Services Council said Brenda Gilliland was an experienced worker and "ought to have been fully aware" of her responsibilities.
Tuesday 11 April 2023 14:41, UK
A support worker has had her career in the care industry brought to a halt after borrowing 拢90 from a vulnerable service user and failing to pay it all back.
Brenda Gilliland has been struck off for her behaviour, which was branded "financial abuse" by Scotland's care watchdog.
In a written ruling, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said: "Your behaviour damages the reputation of the profession and needs to be marked as unacceptable."
Gilliland borrowed the cash in July 2022 from a vulnerable service user while working for Abbotsford Care, which runs several care homes in Kirkcaldy, Fife.
The SSSC said: "You were experienced in your role when the behaviour occurred and ought to have been fully aware of your responsibilities."
The watchdog ruled that Gilliland's fitness to practice was impaired as she breached professional boundaries and was "willing to place service users at risk of harm".
The SSSC added: "Your actions resulted in financial harm to a vulnerable service user as you failed to repay the full amount borrowed.
"Your behaviour represents an abuse of the trust placed in you by your previous employer, the service user and their family."
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Although deemed an isolated incident, Gilliland did not cooperate with the SSSC investigation.
Due to the lack of information, the watchdog concluded there was a "risk of repetition".
In conclusion, the watchdog said a removal order was the "most appropriate sanction" to maintain the "continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession".
The removal order came into effect on 8 April.
Abbotsford Care was contacted for comment.