Thief duped worker into signing off cash Criminal has now been struck off care register

Asupportworkerwhorepeatedly stole money from a vulnerable service user and tried to cover it up has been struck off the care register.

John Prentice helped himself to £10 from a cash tin on eight separate occasions between August and October 2020, while working for Potential Living in Motherwell.

After taking the money, Prentice then got the service user – who did not have the capacity to manage his own finances and had limited understanding of language – to sign a sheet indicating he had received the £10 when he had not.

Prentice’s dishonesty came to an end after he was confronted by his employer.

He has now been banned from working in the industry and the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

In its report, the SSSC told Prentice: “Your actions for med a pattern of dishonest behaviour over approximately two months which only ended when your employer confronted you.

“You have admitted your behaviour, expressed remorse and have shown some insight.

“However, you have not demonstrated developed insight into the impact of your behaviour on the service user, who did not have capacity to manage their own finances and had limited understanding of language. Taking money from a vulnerable service user in your care is indicative of underlying values and falls far short of the standards expected of a social service worker.

“Your actions ser iously call into question your suitability to continue working in the social services sector with vulnerable people who may be at risk of financial exploitation.”

Prentice, who has not worked in the sector for more than a year, was said to have repaid the money he stole.

The SSSC accepted that he had admitted his behaviour, expressed remorse and had shown some insight.

However, the report added: “A warning would not be appropriate as it would not adequately address the impairment of your fitness to practice. Your behaviour is at the higher end of the scale of seriousness.

“A warning would give no protection to service users or the public.

“Conditions would not be appropriate because your behaviour involves dishonesty towards a vulnerable service user, a serious abuse of trust and, while you have apologised, you have not shown developed insight.

“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.”