A charity worker has been struck off after abusing his position when he sent sexually motivated messages to a recovering addict.
William Fitzsimmons contacted the woman on Facebook and sent her multiple messages with the intention of forming a sexual relationship.
An investigation by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) heard Fitzsimmons was working as a recovery practitioner at the Mungo Foundation at South Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Recovery Hub at the time.
The woman was recovering from drugs and alcohol at the time and the inquiry found his abuse of trust caused her emotional harm.
In a report published this week, the SSSC also found that Fitzsimmons lied to his manager that he was aware the woman was a service user, and concealed that he was pursuing an inappropriate relationship.
It explained: "You sent numerous messages to a service user with the intention of forming a sexual relationship with her.
"You also told your manager that you were not aware that she was a service user when you knew this was not true as you took her referral.
"Your actions were dishonest and fall far below the standards expected of a social service worker and are fundamentally incompatible with professional registration.
"You took advantage of your position and power and used a referral you took to make contact with a vulnerable service user, demonstrating a clear breach of professional boundaries."
Ordering Fitzsimmons to be removed from the register, the SSSC added: "Circumstances leading up to the behaviour – your actions are considered deliberate and pre-mediated. It is not possible to consider this would be spontaneous behaviour, in light of the repeated messages and quick escalation of the intimate nature of them.
"The information is that you sought her out by requesting her as a friend on Facebook. The degree of disregard of the codes in your behaviour is such that it is an aggravating factor.
"While you did not have a lot of experience, you were trained in the relevant adult protection and social media policies.
"While you were in a support role with The Mungo Foundation and at the time (during the pandemic), messaging was allowed in a supportive capacity, it is considered the nature of the messages to be such to say the conduct occurred outside working hours.
"However it was linked with your position as a social services worker and the behaviour is so serious that this is an aggravating factor."
