Cruel carer who took Snapchat of vulnerable OAP on toilet struck off

Daily Record

29-04-2025

A cruel Scots carer who mocked a vulnerable OAP after taking a photo of them on the toilet in their pyjamas has been struck off. Cara MacLennan, 20, posed beside the pensioner and held up a "v" sign with her fingers during a shift at Eilean Dubh Care Home in Fortrose in February last year. MacLennan, from Fortrose in the Highlands, posted the photo on Snapchat alongside the caption "can't see me ha ha ha" and "doesn't know what I'm doing". Her friend then shared the image onto Facebook , where it went viral. MacLennan was removed from the profession after the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) amounted her behaviour to "abuse". The ruling , which was published on Monday, stated: '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. 'Your behaviour of sending the photograph had consequences, whereby these were posted by a third person on a public Facebook page which caused concern to the public in general. 'The first incident took place within the workplace, where you were expected to care for the resident in an appropriate manner, thus your behaviour placed the resident at the risk of emotional harm. 'Your behaviour therefore amounts to an abuse of trust and showed a level of disregard for the Codes of Practice and amounted to abuse of a vulnerable resident .' The panel further heard that MacLennan lied on a care assistant job application. The brazen carer told her new employer she had left her previous role because she had been "offered a new job". She had, however, been sacked. MacLennan also failed to mention she was under investigation by the SSSC for the incident. The panel ruling continued: 'You were dismissed from your employment and failed to disclose the reason for this dismissal which shows a level of dishonesty and concealment. You also demonstrated a lack of integrity by not disclosing that you were subject to a SSSC investigation.' Her behaviour was described as 'extremely serious' and 'fundamentally incompatible with continuing registration'. MacLennan was banned from working in social care indefinitely. The Panel added: '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.'