A care worker in Kilwinning has been removed from the SSSC register for misconduct involving a vulnerable service user
Kilwinning: A care worker named Leigh-anne McCartney has been struck off by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). This decision came after a three-day hearing where some serious allegations were discussed.
McCartney didn’t even show up for the hearings, but the panel found several claims against her to be true. They said her actions were such a huge breach of her duties that she couldn’t stay registered.
People would be shocked if she remained on the register, especially after what was revealed. The issues date back to when she worked as a care assistant in Kilwinning from June 2022 to April 2023.
It turns out she had a relationship with a male service user, referred to as AA. They even tried to get intimate in a car and at a hotel. Yikes!
Things got worse when she tried to hide their relationship after it was reported to her employer. She went into the service user’s room and took his phone to delete messages. Talk about a bad move!
Even after leaving her job, she kept contacting AA, telling him she loved him and even calling him “darling.” It’s like she didn’t get the memo that this was all wrong.
In one of her messages, she even threatened him, saying if he talked about their relationship, she’d accuse him of rape. That’s just crossing the line.
The panel concluded that her actions were serious professional misconduct. They said she had a prolonged sexual affair with someone vulnerable, which is a huge betrayal of trust.
While some other allegations against her didn’t hold up, the panel felt that removing her from the care register was the only option. They were clear that she posed a risk to service users if she continued working in social services.
So, as of December 25, McCartney is officially off the register. It’s a tough lesson, but it’s important to keep vulnerable people safe.
