A Glasgow carer has been struck off after she snuck into a service user’s house to take a bottle of wine from the fridge, while under the influence of alcohol.
Claire Leesa Anderson was employed at Aspire West Housing Support Service, Aspire Housing & Personal Development Services Ltd in Glasgow when the incidents took place.
On February 17, 2022, Anderson visited the homes of four service users while drunk and displayed “a series of abusive, upsetting and unwanted behaviour”.
‘Foul and abusive’ language
She attended the home of service user AA, to provide care – and was found by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) to have caused fear and alarm to AA, who wound up calling the police.
The council reprimanded Anderson for making the user feel “scared in their own home”, where they have the right to feel supported safely by workers they trust.
Anderson also made a series of “foul and abusive” comments to AA’s friend ZZ, saying: “I’m not an a**ehole”, and “you made a c**t of me”.
‘Abused the trust’ of service users
The council further found that, while drunk, Anderson had entered the home of another service user, named BB, without being scheduled to visit or informing BB of her presence.
She did this in order to pick up a bottle of wine she had left in BB’s fridge, “abusing the trust” placed in her by the service user.
The council said of this incident: “Social service workers must not abuse the trust placed in them by people they support.
“You entered BB’s house when not scheduled to do so and without letting BB know you were there so you could retrieve a bottle of wine.
“This could have caused BB to feel unsafe in their own home or at least confused about who was entering the house when there was not a visit due.”
‘Massaged user against their will’
Still drunk, Anderson proceeded to visit the home of another service user, CC, this time repeatedly massaging their head and shoulder’s against their wishes.
The SSSC said her behaviour had caused CC to feel “scared and uncomfortable”, and could cause them to lose trust in support workers.
Anderson also visited service user DD while under the influence of alcohol, and made disclosures which left DD feeling visibly uncomfortable and distressed.
Anderson has denied being under the influence of alcohol when these incidents occurred, and did not provide insight, reflection or explanation for her behaviour.
Risk of repeated behaviour
The SSSC said: “By attending the homes of people you support under the influence of alcohol you put them at risk of physical and emotional harm.
“Alcohol can impact your judgment and balance and meant that you were not able to carry out your duties in a safe manner.”
The watchdog ruled that there was a significant risk of repeated behaviour, and chose to impose a removal order, effective March 29.
Aspire has been approached for comment.
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