Childminder fined after Care Commission acts
8 Dec 06
Prosecution sends "strong message" about registration and Commission's role
A childminder who fell out with the Care Commission and carried on looking after children for money after cancelling her registration, was fined £400 yesterday.
June Thompson, a childminder for over 30 years, appeared in Aberdeen Sheriff Court on a charge under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001.
The court heard that she had been reported to the Commission after taking in more children than she was allowed to. After "taking exception", in the words of defence agent John Hardie, to the way she had been treated by inspectors from the Commission, she cancelled her registration in September 2005 but continued working until June this year.
Sheriff Alexander Jessop told Thompson that the regulations were there to look after children, not her. The offence carries a maximum penalty of three months' imprisonment.
The Commission said it was the first time the Act had been used to prosecute someone acting as an unregistered childminder, but it would not hesitate to pursue legal measures where necessary.
"We see this prosecution as sending a strong message about the registration process and the role of the Care Commission as Scotland's care regulator."