A Perthshire care worker has been struck off for a campaign of misconduct that watchdogs ruled put elderly residents and colleagues at risk.
James Steele borrowed cash from a service user at Glencairn House in Auchterader and told him: “Don’t tell anyone, or I’ll get the sack”.
He also ate one resident’s meal, stole some sweets and swore when he was given a job to do by a co-worker.
Mr Steele, 59, admitted a total of 11 charges of misconduct, following an investigation by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
The organisation has now ordered Mr Steele to be removed from the register, meaning he can no longer work in the care sector.
Mr Steele, admitted that between 2015 and July, this year, he borrowed around £70 from a service user known as AA.
When he was found out, he abruptly told AA: “You told…” causing him distress and placing him at risk of harm.
On occasions in June, Mr Steele ate a service user’s meal and took sweets from another resident.
Around the same time, Mr Steele pretended to pour a jug of juice over a colleague’s head, when they were speaking with visitors and service users.
The SSSC said the practical joke placed his colleagues and service users at risk.
In its written ruling, a spokesman for the council told Mr Steele: “You have borrowed money from a service user on several occasions and then repeatedly attempted to conceal the fact by manipulating said service user into silence.
“Furthermore, you spoke to them in an abrupt tone. Such behaviour would constitute a misuse of power and trust placed in a social service worker, places a service user at risk of emotional and financial harm and represents a complete misunderstanding of the fundamental relationship between social services worker and service user.”
He added: “You have used inappropriate language towards a colleague and have pretended to pour a jug of juice over a colleague’s head.
“Such behaviour constitutes a failure to treat colleagues with dignity and respect, placing them at risk of harm.”
The council found that Mr Steele’s behaviour fell “far below the standards expected of professionals in social services”.
The spokesman added: “Your continued registration and employment in any social services organisation may undermine public confidence in social services and the council, as regulator of the profession.
“Should your name remain on the register, potential employers and service users would be entitled to draw an inference that the council is satisfied as to your good character, conduct and competence. Given the allegations against you, the council is not currently so satisfied.”
Mr Steele, who has since moved to Fife, has apologised to his employers at Glencairn House and is said to have cooperated throughout the investigation. He could not be reached for comment yesterday.
No one from the home – which scored high praise from the Care Inspectorate officials last year – was available to speak.
