An Ayr social care worker has been struck off by the industry regulator after she was convicted of stealing from a service user.
Kellyann Rankin stole approximately £1,500 over a period of five weeks and was convicted of the offence at Ayr Sheriff Court in February.
Rankin has now lost the ability to work in the social services sector after the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said her fitness to practise was “impaired” due to her criminal conviction.
In their findings of fact the SSSC said Rankin stole approximately £1,500 from the service user between July 1 and August 7, 2023, while employed as a caregiver by Ayr Care Ltd/Home Instead Senior Care in Ayr.
An extract from the SSSC report said: “Social service workers are expected to be trustworthy and not to exploit people who use services. By stealing from a service user, you (Rankin) acted in a dishonest and untrustworthy manner and financially exploited a service user.
“You (Rankin) were in a position of trust and your behaviour amounts to a gross breach of the trust and confidence placed in you by service users and caused a service user financial, and potentially emotional harm.”
The SSSC noted that Rankin enjoyed a “good previous record” with the SSSC and she “co-operated fully” with their investigation.
However, the regulator said Rankin’s actions were “fundamentally incompatible” with continuing registration.
Their report goes on: “Your behaviour was serious in that it questions your character and demonstrates a worrying attitude of disregard towards service users’ property and their welfare.
“Your behaviour continued for around five weeks which demonstrates a pattern rather than a one-off incident, which raises the risk of repetition. You have acknowledged your behaviour was wrong but have not fully developed insight, especially in relation to the impact your behaviour had on the service user, nor have you shown any remediation.
“The SSSC considers there to be a high risk to public protection posed by your behaviour due to the seriousness and risk of repetition. A reasonable member of the public would consider the reputation of the profession to be damaged by your continued practise. The public interest concern in this case has therefore also been assessed as high. “
The report concludes: “The SSSC considers a Removal Order is the most appropriate sanction as it is both necessary and justified in the public interest and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession.”
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