Domiciliary care worker removed from Register due to theft from service user

A domiciliary care worker, based in Pontypool and Ebbw Vale, has been removed from the Register of Social Care Workers after she was convicted of stealing from a vulnerable service user.

A Social Care Wales hearing was told that between 30 June and 20 July 2020, Carlyanne Wilson entered the home of a vulnerable person in her care while the individual was in hospital and stole £250 and a bank card.

Ms Wilson was subsequently convicted of theft and fraud at Newport Gwent Magistrates Court on 29 October 2020 after admitting to the offences.

After considering the evidence, the panel concluded that Ms Wilson’s fitness to practise was currently impaired because of her criminal conviction.

The panel said: “We accept that Ms Wilson has expressed genuine apology and regret, and we accept that her criminal offending was out of character. However, what she did amounted to a very significant abuse of the trust placed in her by [the vulnerable person in her care] and [their] family.”

“Ms Wilson’s conduct amounted to a breach of a fundamental tenet of the social care profession, namely that carers should not harm those who rely on them. It also amounted to a failure to meet important expectations set out within the Code of Professional Practice for Social Care.”

Ms Wilson told police that she had been under severe financial pressure at the time and the Panel remain concerned she may succumb to temptation again, adding it was much too soon to put her in a position of trust.

Ms Wilson was not present at the one-day hearing, which took place this week.