A carer has been banned from working in the profession for sneakily taking money from the people he was paid to look after.
Thomas Boyle was employed as a home support worker for Inverclyde Council in Greenock when he was found to have breached professional boundaries and used vulnerable's people lack of awareness for his own gain.
In a report by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) it has been detailed that Boyle bought several items from Amazon for a vulnerable man but charged him above market value in order to make an extra profit for himself.
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In February 2021, he bought a folding wooden table for £18.95 but charged the man £50. He also bought a floor lamp for £31.99 but charged the man between £110 and £120 for it instead.
He then bought him another floor lamp for £29.99 and again charged him between £110 and £120 for it.
It was also found that Boyle got a family member to carry out work for the service user and attended his house when he wasn't on shift.
While carrying out support for another service user, he stayed in the kitchen rather than spending time with him and failed to prompt him to eat his dinner as asked to do by his employer.
A report into the incident said that his actions "demonstrated a disregard for the welfare of the man and fell short of the standards expected of him".
It added: "Over an 18-month period, you ordered various items for BB from Amazon in exchange for money. In some instances, you accepted payment in excess of the market value of the item.
"You used BB’s vulnerability and lack of awareness about online transactions for your own gain. Your actions were in breach of professional boundaries and in some instances dishonest, causing financial and emotional harm to BB."
Boyle's "pattern of concerning behaviour" was described as "a serious breach of the Codes of Practise and the fundamental values of the social services profession".
It was decided that he should be removed from the register and will no longer be allowed to work in the profession.
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