Shame of Dunbartonshire ‘slush fund’ care worker

A HEARING into the conduct of a child care worker was told of a general culture of “mismanagement of funds” at the home where she was based.

Margaret Ann Gribbon worked in Ramsay House between 1989 and 2007 and was deputy manager for part of that time.

Social worker Gribbon fully colluded in a non accountable “slush fund” for the home which was used for holidays for a clique of staff, the hearing heard.

Last week Gribbon, of Faifley, was found guilty of misconduct with failings in financial management, staff management and health and safety by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

The SSSC concluded her behaviour had “the potential to expose service users to serious harm” and had “seriously impaired the proper functioning of the unit”.

Ramsay House, in Dalmuir’s Risk Street, is a residential unit for teenage children which can take between six and eight kids at a time.

Gribbon was sacked in June 2007 after being found guilty of “gross misconduct” by West Dunbartonshire Council.

Gribbon has avoided being struck off but the SSSC has decided that she cannot undertake any employment in a supervisory role in social work unless she has successfully completed further training to SVQ Level Four.

Gribbon has 14 days to respond to the decision in writing.