Carer takes tenner from patient’s purse

Dishonest support worker struck off for abuse of trust

A care at home worker was struck off after taking money from a patient’s purse without their permission.

Tia Rochester took £10 from a vulnerable lady under her care while employed with Homecare by Hera Limited, Prestwick.

The incident took place on or around January 22, 2021, and Rochester’s ‘dishonesty’ was said to have caused “upset and harm” to the victim, known only as ‘AA.’

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said Rochester’s fitness to practise was “impaired” due to her “misconduct” and struck her name off the register.

In their report, the SSSC told Rochester: “We decided there is evidence that while employed as a support worker by Homecare by Hera Limited in Prestwick, and during the course of that employment, you did take £10 from AA’s purse without her permission, and act dishonestly in that you did take money which did not belong to you.”

It claimed Rochester’s fitness to practise was impaired because social service workers are expected to be “truthful, open, honest and trustworthy”.

The report goes on: “Social service workers have a responsibility to protect service users, whom they are entrusted to care for, from harm.

“You [Rochester] took money from the purse of AA and you have acted dishonestly.

“Your behaviour amounts to a serious abuse of trust, your behaviour caused upset to AA and caused her financial harm.

And it added: “The misconduct is serious and raises significant concerns about your honesty, integrity and character.”

The SSSC said it was “not satisfied” that there was no risk of repetition, although they did reveal that it was “an isolated incident”.

Rochester initially engaged with the SSSC’s investigation but had since “disengaged” and “stopped responding.”

The investigation noted that there were “no concerns” raised about Rochester’s practice previously, but said her behaviour was “fundamentally incompatible” with continuing registration.

The SSSC added: “The SSSC considers a removal order is the most appropriate sanction as it is both necessary and justified in the public interest and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession.”