Social work assistant accessed confidential records of nearly 400 people

A social work assistant has been banned from the profession after being caught accessing hundreds of confidential records.

The children and young people’s worker accessed the files through their employer’s social care data system over a period of three years before being discovered.

A report by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said the “serious” privacy breach caused emotional distress for at least one of the victims.

It was found that the worker, whose name was redacted by the care watchdog, had accessed records of 378 living people – at least seven of whom were known to them in real life – between April 2019 and March 2022.

A report by the SSSC said: “As a direct consequence of your behaviour the privacy of many individuals was breached.

“Including the privacy of members of the public known to you, one of whom was emotionally distressed by your behaviour.”

The care regulator said the former worker also failed to show they understood the seriousness and potential consequences of their actions.

“You have not shown any insight, remorse or apology in terms of allegations two and three,” the SSSC said.

“The behaviour is extremely serious. A warning would give no protection to service users or the public.”

It was reported that the former worker has not worked in the sector since the breaches were discovered, but the SSSC struck them off the care register to prevent them from having access to social work systems again.