Carer struck off for posting Snapchat of vulnerable person on toilet

A carer has been struck off the register for sending a picture of a vulnerable person on the toilet on Snapchat.

Cara MacLennan was employed as a carer in Fortrose in February 2024 when the incident occurred.

A report from Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said MacLennan took a photograph of herself in her work uniform, holding up her fingers in a “v” sign, alongside a vulnerable service user in their nightwear in the toilet without their consent.

MacLennan captioned the image “can’t see me ha ha ha” and “doesn’t know anything I’m doing” before sharing it with at least one person on Snapchat.

SSSC said the picture was later posted by a third person on a public Facebook page which caused concern to the public.

A report from the watchdog said MacLennan’s behaviour placed the resident at risk of “emotional harm” and was an “abuse of trust”.

She was later found to have failed to disclose she had been dismissed from her previous role while applying to be a care assistant in July, 2024.

She also failed to disclose she was the subject of an ongoing investigation by the SSSC.

The watchdog said her actions were “dishonest” and that she demonstrated a lack of integrity by not disclosing she was subject to the investigation.

Following the investigation, SSSC removed MacLennan from the register saying the order was “the most appropriate sanction”.

“The misconduct causes significant concerns about your core values as a social care worker entrusted to care and support vulnerable people,” the report read.

Speaking on the ruling, SSSC said a suspension order would not sufficiently protect service users.

The report concluded: “The SSSC considers a Removal Order is the most appropriate sanction as it is both necessary and justified in the public interest and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession.”