A Glasgow housing support worker failed to let social services know that a 'very vulnerable' young mother was being threatened, and then allowed the woman and her baby to stay overnight in her home.
Joyce White was working for Quarriers as a project worker when the events took place, and remains employed by the organisation.
The social care charity provides care and support for vulnerable children, adults, and families "who face extremely challenging circumstances".
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An investigation by industry watchdog the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) found that White had also responded to a text by the worried woman, saying she "didn't care" about the repercussions of her actions as she was seeking other employment as "her wages were s****".
The woman, known only as 'AA' in the SSSC report, was "a very vulnerable young person supported by social work and other services".
She also had a key worker from White's employers, Quarriers.
Investigators said that on August 29, 2020, White had allowed the vulnerable young user and her baby to stay overnight at her home.
This arrangement was made after the young woman told White that she was being threatened.
White did not inform social workers that the woman was being threatened, or where the mother and child would be staying, namely in White's own home.
The following day, the young mum texted White, worried she could be in trouble with her employer.
White sent a text saying she didn't care as she was “looking for something else anyway as the wages are s**** and the council pay(s) double”.
White told the service user she could lose her job for taking the woman and her baby overnight in for the overnight stay.
Her fitness to practise was found to be impaired because of her misconduct, the SSSC said.
In their findings, SSSC investigators said that White had breached the rules as workers must not form "inappropriate relationships" with service users, and they must work in a "lawful, safe and effective way".
White "failed to maintain professional and work boundaries between her personal life and work life" and caused the woman to worry about the repercussions of the overnight stay, the SSSC found.
The report added: "(The woman) requires support from agencies to keep her and her baby safe.
"Your behaviour gave her unreasonable expectations of the support that can be provided to her and has the potential to adversely affect how she interacts with other workers in the future.
"You failed to inform any services responsible for supporting her or tell them where she and her child would be spending the night.
"You were aware that social services were involved. Failing to inform social services prevented them from fully responding to the safety concerns that the woman had raised because they were unaware of her whereabouts."
White was given a warning on her registration for 12 months by the SSSC, and told she must let her employer know within seven days of the sanction, which came into effect today, Wednesday, May 25.
She was also ordered to carry out learning and training within three months of the sanction, and later must give a "reflective account" of her actions.
A spokesperson for Quarriers said: "Following a thorough investigation, appropriate disciplinary action was taken. Quarriers also referred the case to the SSSC and to Disclosure Scotland.
"The staff member remains an employee of Quarriers and their continued employment is subject to contractual and regulatory requirements. "
