A FIFE carer who had a sexual relationship with a service user has been suspended from working for a year.

Clare Syme had a sexual relationship with the person over a period of around 15 months from January 2022 until May 5 this year while working as a home carer for Fife Council.

A disciplinary hearing from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) also found that on a date unknown in around January 2022, she failed to report to her employer that the service-user - named as 'AA' in the findings - had kissed her.

She was also found that having been instructed by her employer on or around May 5 not to attend any service users’ homes, she stayed at AA's home in Glenrothes on or around 5 and 6 May 2023.

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When asked by her employer to leave the home of AA, she refused to do so and, on or around May 7, she attended his home again.

The SSSC said that although Syme's behaviour did not appear to have been predatory, it was still a "serious abuse" of position and power.

The hearing report told her: "You were aware that it was professionally wrong, but you continued the relationship.

"Social service workers are expected to be open, transparent and honest in the course of their work. Your failure to tell your employer AA had kissed you and your concealment of the relationship for so long shows a serious disregard for AA, his family, your employer and the systems in place designed to protect those people.

"Despite a reasonable request not to attend service users’ homes following the discovery of the relationship, you remained at the home of AA over the following days.

"This showed a continuing lack of understanding and respect for the systems in place to protect you and AA and raises concerns about your ability to recognise how serious the boundaries issue was."

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The report said that Syme had admitted her behaviour from the outset and shown insight into – and regret and remorse – for the particular circumstances of this relationship and the effect on AA and his family.

It added: "However, you fail to show an objective understanding of why such behaviour is wrong and, generally, why such relationships with service users simply should not occur.

"You also fail to show a general understanding of the risks for service users of such relationships. We cannot be fully reassured that you have learnt from this to the extent that it would never happen again.

"We consider there is a low risk of repetition.

"There is also a concern for the public interest given the very serious and fundamental nature of the breach of professional boundaries and the length of time it lasted. We consider some action is also needed to address the public interest concern."

As well as placing a suspension order on Syme's SSSC registration for a year, she was ordered to complete training and learning on professional boundaries and Adult Support and Protection responsibilities.

Within two months of carrying out the learning, she was told to send a written reflective account to the SSSC covering points including "why it is not appropriate for social service workers to have a romantic and/or sexual relationship with a person who uses services" and "why professional boundaries are essential in your role as a social service worker."

The document also has to cover what she would now do differently if faced with a similar situation and how the SSSC can be assured she would not repeat any of the behaviours.