Occupational therapist struck off over Lincolnshire care home theft

Occupational therapist John Valmoria was struck off the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Register because of a conviction for theft from a service user while working as a care home manager.

A panel of the HCPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard that Mr Valmoria stole from a service user, while managing a Lincolnshire care home, abusing the trust of a woman in her 80s and an elderly service user.

The panel further heard how the wife of a resident in his 80s suffering Dementia, gave Mr Valmoria a cheque book to draw cheques to pay the resident’s fees at the Bungalow Rest Home in Spalding.

In November 2012, Mr Valmoria made a cheque for £4,500 payable to himself. He attempted to conceal the theft by persuading the service user to sign a fictitious loan agreement. He pleaded guilty to theft at Lincoln Crown Court and was sentenced to five months imprisonment.

Panel Chair Ms Jane Everitt commented: “The nature and seriousness of the Registrant’s conviction is such that there is no other way to protect the public against the risk of his being dishonest in the future and as such he is not fit to be a member of the profession.”

The Panel decided the necessary and proportionate sanction was to strike him  from the Register.

Mr Valmoria was not present and nor represented at the hearing.