Dishonest Scottish carer ‘withdrew £10,000 from patient’s account’

A Scottish carer has been struck off the register after evidence was found that she had withdrawn £10k from a patient’s account.

Wendy Hume was employed as a support worker at Leonard Cheshire Disability in Dunfermline at the time of the incident. The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) found that she had taken the funds on various dates between December 2021, and October 2022.

They also said she acted “dishonestly” and claimed she had the patient’s consent to withdraw the money. The SSSC made the decision to remove her from the register, after “placing service users at risk of unnecessary harm”.

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A report from the SSSC reads: “While employed as a Support Worker by Leonard Cheshire Disability and during the course of that employment you did, on various dates between 15 December2021 and 5 October 2022 withdraw monies from service user AA’s bank account totalling £10,1502.

“Your behaviour at allegation one, you did act dishonestly in that you did not have AA’s consent to withdraw those funds. In light of the above your fitness to practise is impaired due to your misconduct at allegations one and two.”

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They found her fitness to practise impaired, as workers are “expected to act with honesty and integrity”. They also accused her of placing the “reputation of the profession” at risk.

Concerns including Wendy showing “no insight or regret” regarding her actions. The report also claimed she didn’t apologise, and stated there was a “significant degree of planning” in her actions.

They continued: “You took steps to remove the service user’s bank card from their home and use it when you knew the service user was not at home.

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“Your behaviour took place on multiple occasions over a significant period of time. Your behaviour took place when you should have been working to support the service user.

“You placed the service user at risk of significant financial harm. Your behaviour was a serious abuse of the trust placed in you by the service user and your employer.”

The SSSC did have one factor in Wendy’s favour, which was that she has not been reported to the council on any previous occasion.

However, they said other sanctions would not be appropriate due to her “serious abuse” of trust. Her behaviour also raised questions regarding her “values and suitability”.

Leonard Cheshire Disability has been approached for comment.