Cara MacLennan, a 20-year-old caregiver from Fortrose in the Scottish Highlands, has been prohibited from working in social care following a disciplinary ruling over inappropriate behaviour towards an elderly patient. The incident occurred in February of the previous year at Eilean Dubh Care Home in Fortrose.
During her employment, MacLennan took a photograph of a resident in a vulnerable moment—on the toilet—while she struck a disrespectful pose alongside, making a "v" for victory sign. She then shared the image on Snapchat with mocking captions such as "can't see me ha ha ha" and "doesn't know what I'm doing." This photograph was subsequently shared by a friend onto a public Facebook page, where it attracted viral attention and caused public concern.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) conducted a hearing in which they issued a stern reprimand. The ruling criticised MacLennan’s conduct, stating: "You have taken a selfie photograph of a resident and thereafter added derogatory remarks about her, before sending this to a friend via a social media platform." The panel emphasised the consequences of her actions, noting that the photograph’s wider dissemination on social media caused general public concern.
The council labelled her behaviour an "abuse of trust" and a "disregard for the Codes of Practice," describing it as an abuse of a vulnerable resident. The report highlighted the emotional risk inflicted on the elderly patient as a result of the incident.
Further misconduct was uncovered during the hearing, revealing that MacLennan had falsified information on a job application for a care assistant role. She falsely claimed that she had left her previous job voluntarily for another opportunity, whereas she had actually been dismissed. Additionally, she failed to disclose that she was under investigation by the SSSC for the incident. The panel described this as a demonstration of dishonesty, concealment, and lack of integrity.
The ruling concluded that MacLennan’s actions were "extremely serious" and fundamentally incompatible with continued registration as a social care worker. Consequently, the SSSC issued a Removal Order, permanently barring her from the social care profession. The council justified this measure as both necessary and justified "in the public interest and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession."
The case has been reported by the Express and the Daily Record, providing detailed accounts of the decision and its basis in safeguarding standards within social care settings.
Source: Noah Wire Services