A SCOTS carer has been struck off after threatening to punch a service user in the face with her own fist, demanding money from another and being verbally abusive.
Rejoice Uwandi was found guilty of the allegations whilst employed as a health care assistant in Ayr, South Ayrshire between July 2023 and August 2023.
Uwandi was found to have called one service user – known only as AA – a “stupid b***h”and grabbed her by the wrist, threatening to punch her in the face with her own fist.
While working as a support worker in another employment, Uwandi was also found to have failed to care for a second user – BB – at a cafe, instead using her phone to take photos and having BB pay for lunch.
Uwandi also took “financial advantage” of BB, demanding the service user give her money for fuel and then falsely recording it as money for shopping.
A hearing from care watchdog the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) followed, who wrote in their decision: “Social service workers should not abuse or harm people who use services.
“You were verbally abusive to a vulnerable service user, AA, and threatened the same service user with violence.
“You took advantage of service user BB by allowing them to pay an excessive amount for your meal and demand that BB give you money for fuel.
“You attempted to conceal this by not recording that you had taken money for fuel. Yourecorded that the money was spent on shopping when you knew this was not true.
“Your behaviour falls far below that expected of social service workers. Your behaviourfalls at the more serious end of the scale of seriousness.
“Vulnerable service users should be treated with dignity and respect, and not be abused bythose who are caring for them.
“Service users should also be able to place trust in social service workers. Your values andattitudinal issues may not be easily remediable.
“The SSSC considers there is a high risk you would repeat your behaviour, which wouldplace further vulnerable people at risk of harm.
”The panel agreed that Uwandi’s fitness to practice was impaired.They stated: “A finding of impairment is necessary to protect the public and uphold standards of conduct expected of social service workers.
“You abused the trust place in you and put vulnerable service users at risk of emotionaland financial harm.
“This type of behaviour is damaging to the profession and failure to take action would undermine the SSSC’s role as a professional regulator.”
Uwandi was found to have shown no remorse, leading to the panel agreeing that a removal was the most appropriate sanction.
They stated: “A warning would not be appropriate as the behaviour is highly serious. A warning would give no protection to service users or the public.“
A condition would not be appropriate because there are no workable, enforceable conditions which would adequately protect the public from the risk of the behaviour being repeated.
“There is no evidence you acknowledge your failings and lack of insight suggests the behaviour is likely to be repeated.
“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.”
