A FORMER Slough council manager has been given an eight-month prison sentence after admitting four counts of fraud by abuse of position.
Gurjinder Bhogal of Aspects Court, Slough, is a qualified occupational therapist and was claiming a full-time wage from the council as a practice manager within the Rehabilitation, Recovery and Reablement Team.
Her responsibilities included managing the day-to-day running of the service, representing the department at meetings, providing supervision to team members, and monitoring the service by ensuring compliance with the Care Quality Commission.
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Despite telling bosses she was working or off sick, the 41-year-old was working as an occupational therapist with at least four other care agencies.
Ms Bhogal, who resigned from the council in August 2020, appeared before Reading Crown Court on Friday, April 9, after admitting four counts of fraud by abuse of position between September 2018 and March 2020.
She was handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, ordered to complete 25 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirements, and ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to the council. There were no costs awarded.
Judge Burgess sentencing Ms Bhogal said: “Your role bore considerable responsibility to co-workers and patients. You were not able to discharge your duties. Potential consequences could have been far-reaching and severe. You benefitted financially yourself.”
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Other members of the team picked up her work and no residents were impacted by her actions, the council said.
In light of her criminal conviction, a report will be submitted to her professional body to consider her fitness to practice.
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