Fife care worker who stole over £3,000 from resident struck off

A Fife care worker has been struck off after stealing more than £3,000 from a person she supported and cared for.

Zoe Shepherd, from Cupar, worked as a social care worker for Abbotsford Care Ltd, where she was tasked with supporting vulnerable individuals.

She was under investigation by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) following allegations that she stole from a resident.

According to the newly released report, Shepherd was convicted of theft on March 13, 2026, at Dundee Sheriff Court.

Between August 21 and October 7, 2025, she used a resident’s bank card and took money out of an ATM totalling £3,080.

The report stated: “You stole a significant sum of money from a supported individual. You were dishonest and abused the trust and confidence placed in you as a social service worker.

“Your behaviour caused financial harm to a supported individual and risked causing them emotional harm.”

The SSSC also noted that Shepherd stole money over several weeks, showing this was not an isolated incident and therefore the risk of repetition was found to be high.

Shepherd apologised for her behaviours, but the SSSC said it raises “serious and fundamental questions” about her character and conduct.

The SSSC said a warning would not be appropriate as her actions were “extremely serious”.

Shepherd was handed a removal notice and was struck from the care register with immediate effect.

A spokesperson for Abbotsford Care Ltd said: “As soon as the matter was identified, we acted immediately to protect the resident and worked closely with the relevant authorities to ensure swift action was taken. The individual is no longer employed by us.

“We are deeply disappointed by the actions of this former employee, which are completely unacceptable and do not reflect our values or the high standards we expect.”