AN AYRSHIRE support worker has been struck off parts of the carer's register for stealing and accepting gifts from a service user's wife.

Kirsty Murphy was handed the sanctions from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) following her actions during her time employed with CERA Ayrshire.

Murphy was employed as a support worker with the company, which is based in Prestwick but which has operations providing care across the county.

She has been removed from the SSSC register for Support Workers in a Housing Support Service and Support Workers in a Care at Home Service after it was found that her fitness to practise was impaired.

Following an SSSC investigation, it was found that the Ayrshire carer had stolen and accepted gifts from the same service user's wife.

The investigation report explained: "You did - in relation to the wife of service user AA, on or around July 11, 2020 - go into AA’s wife’s handbag without her knowledge and consent, take £10 out of AA’s wife’s handbag without her knowledge or consent,.

"You did, by your actions, act dishonestly in that you did go into the bag of AA’s wife and steal £10."

The report goes onto explain further that on a date or dates unknown to the SSSC, but between on or around April 1, 2015 and July 11, 2020 Murphy accepted gifts from the same service user's wife.

The report explains that she accepted a £100 gift for getting married, and a £20 gift for Christmas.

It adds: "You did, by your actions, act contrary to your employer’s policy on accepting gifts in that you did not disclose these."

The investigation report went onto detail why these findings impaired Murphy's fitness to practise.

It states: "Social services workers, in whom service users and the public place their trust and confidence, are expected to act with honesty and integrity at all times.

"You went into the handbag of the wife of a service user and took money, without her knowledge or consent.

"You abused the trust placed in you and have knowingly caused financial harm. Such behaviour is dishonest and fundamentally incompatible with professional registration.

"You have also acted contrary to your employer’s policy on accepting gifts and have failed to declare that the wife of AA gave you money on two occasions.

"This behaviour breaches the trust and confidence placed in you as a social service worker."

It added that the SSSC found "no circumstances or context" which would make these actions any less serious.

The findings explain why this led to Murphy being struck from the register for her actions.

It says: "Taking money from the bag of a service user’s wife without her knowledge or consent amounts to financial abuse."

While it added that there were "no factors in your favour" in terms of not imposing a removal.

A warning, condition, suspension or a combination of these other possible sanctions was also considered not to go far enough.

CERA Ayrshire have been approached for comment, though have yet to provide this at the time of writing.

The notice of Murphy's removal came into effect on Wednesday, June 7.