A West Lothian carer has been struck off after allegedly stealing a number of cigarettes from a vulnerable resident.
Abbey McCormack was working as a care assistant for HC-One Limited at Redmill Nursing Home in Bathgate before she acted “dishonestly”.
On or around October 29 and October 30, 2023, McCormack allegedly stole the cigarettes from Resident AA causing her fitness to practise to be “impaired”.
Following the incident, the Scottish Social Services Council conducted a review into the actions and described the behaviour as “serious” and say it was an “abuse of trust”.
According to the review, the behaviour took place over two days and caused “financial harm” to the resident.
The review reads: “Social service workers are expected to be truthful, open, honest, and trustworthy. By stealing from service user AA you have acted in a dishonest and untrustworthy manner. Social service workers are also expected not to put others at unnecessary risk of harm.
“By stealing from AA you caused financial harm to her and her family and also put AA and her family at risk of emotional harm.
“Your behaviour has been assessed as serious due to the risk of harm your behaviour posed to AA. Dishonesty is also listed in the SSSC’s Decisions Guidance as behaviour where more serious action may be required. This behaviour is not easily remediable as it raises concerns about your values.
“Your actions risked damaging the relationship between AA and her other carers. Your actions also risked damaging the relationship between AA’s other carers and her family.”
A spokesperson for Redmill Nursing Home said: “Kindness and integrity are two of our core values, are of paramount importance to us, and we do not tolerate behaviour which does not reflect these values.
When we were first made aware of Ms McCormack’s behaviour, she was suspended, we investigated the matter, and she has not worked at our home since this took place last year.
“Having reported her to the SSSC, we are grateful they have taken robust action to uphold the essential standards all care workers should meet. We will always act swiftly to prioritise the wellbeing of the people we support.”
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