Carer who stole bank card from vulnerable service user struck off

A care worker who stole a bank card from a vulnerable person and made a number of withdrawals has been banned from the profession.

Annemarie Campbell, who was employed as a care assistant by Pro Care Ayrshire Limited, took the bank card from a service user’s home.

She went on to withdraw cash from an account on August 15, 2022, as well as two other unauthorised withdrawals on August, 10, 2022.

A total of £8,000 was withdrawn in 34 separate transactions between June 12, 2022 and August 9, 2022, but the panel concluded it did not have sufficient evidence to link those transactions to Campbell.

But they did determine there was enough evidence relating to the incidents in August 2022.

The Scottish Social Services Council considered Campbell’s fitness to practice, concluding her actions were “dishonest” and a serious breach of trust.

The SSSC noted Campbell “abused the trust that had been placed in her by her employer, the service user, and the public in general.”

The panel said the “risk of repetition was high, and that Campbell’s behaviour was “fundamentally incompatible” with retaining her role as a care worker.

The SSSC said: “This action was both necessary and justified in public interest, and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession.”