Social worker struck off for defrauding service user of £63,000

Social Worker Neil Ellesmere has been struck off the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Register for abusing his position to defraud a service user of over £63,000 whilst employed by Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham, Portsmouth.

A panel of the HCPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard that on 18 January 2012 Mr Ellesmere contacted Adult A’s solicitors who had an Enduring Power of Attorney. Mr Ellesmere claimed that he had become the manager of Adult A’s affairs and provided the solicitors with details of his business ‘Surrey Home Support’.

The Panel further heard that the solicitors became concerned and discovered that Adult A had paid two cheques to Mr Ellesmere’s company. In addition three pension sums and three Attendance Allowance totals along with further money had been paid into Mr Ellesmere’s company.

As a result of his actions, a referral was made to the police for investigation and Mr Ellesmere appeared at Aldershot Magistrates Court in October 2014 and pleaded guilty to the fraud charge.

Mr Ellesmere was committed to Winchester Crown Court and sentenced to 20 months in prison on 21 November 2014.

Panel Chair Donald Brown commented: “Mr Ellesmere, by virtue of his conviction, has undermined confidence in him and his profession. He has also caused harm and significant financial loss to a vulnerable service user.”

The Panel decided the necessary and proportionate sanction was to strike his name from the register.

Mr Ellesmere was not present or represented at the hearing.