Sneaky carer stole cash to buy handbags

A carer has been struck off after being caught buying handbags with cash from a disabled Wishaw resident.

Nicola Paterson was hit with the ultimate sanction from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) over her conduct.

Paterson was working as a support worker by Support for Ordinary Living in Wishaw when she stole the cash in March last year.

The charity works with people with a variety of different support needs and disabilities to help them live a more free life away from their conditions and live in their own homes.

The SSSC report states: “Service user AA has her own money and makes her own decisions.

“The carer’s role is to support her in making good decisions.

“On March 17 there was a receipt from Aldi which included an entry of £14.99 for a bag. On March 20 there was a receipt from Tesco which included the amount of £18 for a bag.

“When AA was made aware of the situation, she was shown photos of the bags bought and she had no knowledge of them. She was very distressed.

“She contacted police. She brought it up regularly with carers and cried for months over what happened.”

The report confirmed Paterson was the worker on-duty who went to Tesco and Aldi on the days in question.

When questioned by her employers, Paterson said she could not recall what had taken place due to the lapse in time and that her life had been busy during the intervening period.

On the balance of probability, the SSSC Panel accepted that Paterson had purchased the bags and that such behaviour fell short of the standard to be expected of a carer.

The report adds: “You (Paterson) had used the service user’s money for your own purposes. That was fraudulent and a clear abuse of the trust placed in you.

“Given the seriousness of the behaviour, that there seemed to be the beginning of a pattern of behaviour and that it involved dishonesty, it is suggested that there was a real public interest to be protected here, particularly in respect of protecting the reputation of the profession.

“Although removal was the most serious sanction which could be imposed, in this particular case it appeared to be the proportionate sanction in order to protect the public and address the significant public interest in a case involving such a serious breach of trust.

“Public confidence i n t he profession would be seriously undermined if you were to remain registered in the circumstances.”

Support for Ordinary Living in Wishaw have been approached for comment.