Childminder Lands In The Dock For Flouting Care Rules

She admitted the offence and could have faced up to three months in prison but was instead handed a £400 fine at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Last night, the Care Commission warned they would not hesitate to prosecute anyone else who flouted the rules.

Thompson, of Ellon, Aberdeenshire, who had been a childminder since 1975, cancelled her registration last year after falling out with Care Commission inspectors.

She had been caring for more children than she was allowed to and other childminders reported her to the commission. She cancelled her registration but continued working between 28 September, 2005, and 6 June this year.

Inspectors visited her home on four separate dates in November last year, but she refused to let them in.

John Hardie, defending, said Thompson had “taken exception” to the way she had been treated by the inspectors.

“She was looking after one more child than she was registered to be caring for. She was registered to mind five children but had six on that occasion. And in a fit of anger and frustration she took this action.”

Mr Hardie said parents put pressure on Thompson to look after their children so she took them on unregistered. “She had no idea she was committing a serious offence,” he said.

He added that she had taken steps to reapply for registration.

Sheriff Alexander Jessop told Thompson: “You must have known you should not have been looking after children. The regulations are there to look after children, not you.”

Ronnie Hill, the director of children’s services at the Care Commission, said: “This is the first time that the Care Commission has used legislation under the Registration of Care Act to prosecute someone acting as a childminder while not registered.

“This reflects both the serious nature of this case and how the Care Commission will not hesitate to pursue a legal resolution where it is necessary.

“We see this prosecution as sending a strong message about the registration process and the role of the Care Commission as Scotland’s care regulator.”

Mr Hill went on: “Ensuring a care provider is properly registered is not a needless red-tape exercise. It’s about ensuring that parents, in the case of childminders, can be confident that their children are being cared for safely.”

Thompson refused to comment as she left the court yesterday.