A Lanarkshire carer has been given a warning for exploiting a 'vulnerable' service user for her own financial gain.
Samantha Ferguson was reported to the Scottish Social Services Council after it was discovered that she had taken £825 from someone she was employed to look after.
While working as a care assistant in Lanark in February 2021, she provided a service user with the details of her Paypal account when she had 'no valid reason for doing so'.
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Later that day she accepted the first transfer of £50 with the description "thanks". A few days later she accepted a transfer of £20 with the description "if you need more just ask x".
The transactions continued throughout the next two months. In April, Ferguson started accepting payments on behalf of a colleague.
She also provided the service user with her personal mobile number and began sending regular text messages asking for money or discussing money.
The total amount sent to Ferguson amounted to £825.
A report by the SSSC found that her behaviour amounted to an abuse of trust and placed the service user at risk of "financial and emotional harm."
It outlined: "By providing AA with your personal telephone number and corresponding with AA via WhatsApp, your behaviour amounts to a breach of professional boundaries. Your behaviour shows that you have formed an inappropriate relationship with AA, as you have potentially created an unrealistic expectation that all social service workers communicate in this way.
"This behaviour falls below the acceptable standard of care expected of a social service worker amounts to misconduct.
"Your behaviour involves a pattern of conduct that suggests you do not possess appropriate values to work in the social services sector. However, you have demonstrated insight in relation to the allegations. As part of the SSSC investigation, you have provided comments which indicate that you acknowledge your behaviour was wrong and you regret your actions. You have paid back the funds taken from AA."
Ferguson had a warning placed on her registration that will last two years.
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