Glasgow carers 'engaged in sexual activity' in patient's bedroom while on duty for Community Integrated Care

A Glasgow carer who engaged in sexual activity with a colleague while on duty has been struck off.

Melissa Campbell was employed as a support worker by Community Integrated Care (CIC), one of the UK’s biggest social care charities, when the incident occurred.

It comes after her colleague, Jamie Kristoffersen, was struck off in December for the same incident.

As a result of the investigation by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), their employer took “appropriate action” against the colleagues and neither remain employed by the charity.

On or around September 25 that year, Campbell engaged in sexual behaviour with Kristoffersen, in a bedroom belonging to a service user – while on duty.

As a result, she was found to have left the service user and another unsupervised, and therefore at risk of harm.

A hearing by SSSC decided that, since there was enough evidence to support the allegations, Campbell’s fitness to practise was impaired.

The watchdog stated that her behaviour was “serious”, and fell below the standard expected of a social service worker.

It added that not only had the incident resulted in the service users being left at an “unnecessary risk of harm”, they were also placed at further risk of harm by potential exposure to witnessing sexual activity between the colleagues.

It said: “Your behaviour violated the fundamental values of the profession and breached the trust and confidence placed in you by your employer, users of services and members of the public.

“You have failed to provide an acceptable level of care to [the two service users].”

The SSSC concluded that, since Campbell had failed to show insight, regret, or apology for the incident – alongside other factors – she would be removed from the register effective February 3.

Allison Cochrane, managing director for Scotland at CIC, says: “At Community Integrated Care the safety and wellbeing of the people we support is paramount, and it is clear that this behaviour falls significantly short of the standards we expect of our colleagues.”

“As soon as we became aware of this incident, we took immediate action, suspending those involved and notifying all relevant authorities, including the SSSC and the Care Inspectorate.

“We are in full support of the SSSC’s decision and are pleased that this aligns with the findings of our own internal investigation.”