An Ayrshire care worker has been struck off after she was found guilty of three counts of fraud and one count of theft from the very people she was supposed to be looking after.
Caitlin Gibson withdrew more than £800 in cash from one patient’s account — on three separate occasions.
And on another occasion callous Gibson stole money from someone else under her care.
Details of the offences are outlined in a Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) report which branded Gibson’s behaviour “deliberate and dishonest.”
Gibson was convicted last year of the offences at Ayr Sheriff Court.
The offences date back to November 23, 2019; two offences on November 24, 2019; and a theft of cash on December 2, at a patient’s home.
The SSSC said Gibson’s pattern of behaviour was an “abuse of trust” and had a “serious harmful effect” on the service users and their families.
The SSSC said to Gibson: “Social service workers must be truthful, honest, and trustworthy.
“You (Gibson) have been convicted of three charges of fraud and one charge of theft.
“The nature of your behaviour demonstrates that you do not have these fundamental character values.”
The SSSC went on to say Gibson’s actions were “deliberate and targeted at service users” and caused “financial and emotional harm” to her victims.
The report goes on: “Social service workers must not exploit people who use services or abuse the access that they have to personal information about them or their property or their home.
“You (Gibson) exploited the access that you had to the property in two service users’ homes and the personal information that you had about them.
“Your behaviour was very serious and calls into question your suitability to work as a social services worker.
“It was an abuse of trust. It placed service users at risk of financial and emotional harm. It was dishonest and it violated the fundamental values of the social care profession.”
Gibson, who worked in Cumnock, said she needed money because she was under “significant pressure” to repay a debt.
However, the governing body said: “You have explained that you committed these crimes because were under significant pressure to repay a debt.
“While this explains your behaviour, it does not excuse it.”
The SSSC noted that the money had been repaid to the service users but added: “It cannot, yet, be said with confidence that you would not repeat the behaviour if you were allowed to work in the same or a similar role. The public require to be protected from such behaviour because the risk of harm is high.”
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