Care worker manipulated vulnerable client into giving her cash

Lucy Methven, who worked at a care home service for adults in Cupar, took at least £220 from a service user, named in official documents as AA.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) ruled that Methven be struck off for behaviour that was “manipulative and exploitative of a vulnerable user”.

An SSSC Fitness to Practise Panel found that Methven had told the vulnerable service user that she didn’t have enough money for her electric meter and accepted £20 in cash, as well as £40 for a haircut, £20 for fish and chips and a taxi, £40 for her birthday, and a cheque for £100.

The panel said Methven did “fail to report to your employer that resident AA had offered you money and small gifts”.

The panel also ruled that she did “act with a lack of integrity as you knew, or ought to have known, that  you were not permitted to accept gifts or money from residents, and had a duty to report small gifts that were offered to you by residents.”

The ruling stated: “Social service workers are expected to maintain professional boundaries, not to abuse their positions of power and trust, and to follow policies, practices and guidance designed to protect vulnerable users of services from harm.”

“Accepting money and gifts from AA in circumstances where you had told her of personal and money struggles indicates manipulation of AA and your professional position for your own gain.

“Your conduct appears attitudinal given the lack of integrity shown by your manipulation of the circumstances on several occasions. “Your conduct amounts to financial exploitation of AA.

“Accepting the money and gifts from AA caused actual financial and emotional harm to AA and risked longer term psychological harm to her.”


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