Hearings and decisions

1. Between the approximate dates of 10 December 2019 and 13 April 2021:

a. You withdrew money belonging to service users from bank accounts held in their names, on one or more occasions as set out in Schedule A;

b. That money had originated in whole or part from Disability Living Allowance (‘DLA’) payments made to those service users;

c. You deposited one or more sums withdrawn in your own bank account/s.

2. In relation to one or more withdrawals set out in Schedule A, you recorded false and/or misleading information, or did not make an accurate entry, in a financial log about the purpose of withdrawing money from service users’ accounts.

3. Your conduct in relation to paragraph 1 was dishonest, in that:

a. You made a gain for yourself on one or more occasions, in relation to using and/or retaining the money, and/or gaining interest;

b. In relation to one or more of the deposits referred to in Paragraph 1.c above, you intended to retain the money and/or use it as though it was your own, in whole or in part;

c. You did not prevent a conflict of interest existing between your duty to protect the financial interests of one or more service users and you having their money deposited into your bank account;

d. You did not reasonably believe your actions were in accordance with local policy/ guidance and/or the purpose of the DLA payments.

4. Your conduct in relation to paragraph 2 was dishonest, in that you did not keep full and accurate entries for one or more withdrawals, knowing or believing such entries to be inaccurate.

The matters outlined in paragraphs 1 to 4 amount to the statutory ground of misconduct.

Your fitness to practise is impaired by reason of your misconduct.