An Ayrshire carer accepted £50 from the son of a supported person in order to buy cannabis for him.
Eleanor Riddex, of Irvine, received the money via a bank transfer while employed as a care at home assistant by North Ayrshire Council, on or around May 28, 2024.
Industry regulator, The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), deemed Riddex’s fitness to practise “impaired” due to “misconduct” and placed a warning on her registration for a period of 12 months.
The supported person is only known as ‘BB’ and the son who transferred the cash was referred to as ‘AA’ for confidentiality reasons.
In their notice of decision the SSSC said: “Social care workers are expected to maintain professional boundaries and not behave in a way that would call into question their suitability to work with vulnerable people.
“Accepting money from the son of supported person ‘BB’, who lived in the same property as ‘BB,’ for the purposes of purchasing an illegal drug was a serious matter.
“It showed a disregard for the systems in place to protect vulnerable people, a disregard for the law and placed ‘BB’ and their family at risk of harm.”
However, given Riddex’s approach and response to the concerns raised, together with the “isolated nature” of the behaviour, the regulator did not consider that there was a current public protection risk.
They did, however, consider there to be public interest “concerns” that needed to be “addressed” with regards to the case.
Factors of concern, according to the SSSC, were the fact that Riddex’s behaviour took place during the course of her work in social care, and that she risked “financial and emotional harm” to the family unit in which ‘BB’ lived and received care.
The SSSC also claimed Riddex’s conduct was an “abuse of the trust” placed in her to maintain boundaries and to protect ‘BB’ from “any harm.”
It was, however, revealed during the SSSC investigation that Riddex raised what appeared to be “legitimate concerns” about the conduct of ‘AA’ towards her in the time leading up to the incident.
She also told the SSSC of her “fear” and “anxiety” about that individual and how that “impacted” her conduct. ‘AA’ was not a vulnerable individual.
Riddex, it was said, admitted the behaviour and showed “insight,” while also providing a “reassurance” that this will not be repeated.
In addition, she “fully cooperated” with the SSSC investigation, enjoyed a “good history” prior to the incident and she remained at work “without any further issue” until you she left that employment in September 2024.
The warning on Riddex’s registration came into effect on December 25 last year.
A North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership spokesperson said: “We are unable to comment on individual circumstances, nor on personnel matters.
“However, North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership can confirm that this person is no longer employed by North Ayrshire Council.”