A charity watchdog is investigating the alleged misappropriation of over £70,000 at St Francis Care Home, a nursing facility in Govan, Glasgow, operated by the Order of Franciscan Sisters Minoress. The suspected misuse of funds was first identified last year, prompting reports to both the police and the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).

In recently published accounts filed with Companies House, Sister Patricia Jordan, a trustee at the care home, confirmed that £71,063.30 had been improperly used by an employee during prior financial periods. She commented that the discovery was “a shock to everyone” associated with the home and said it had led to significant changes in the organisation’s financial management. The ongoing police investigation currently limits further disclosure.

St Francis Care Home, which provides 24-hour nursing and respite care for up to 40 elderly residents, many of whom are in their late 80s or 90s and living with dementia, has been operating as a registered charity since 2015. The facility traces its origins to 1946 when the Franciscan Minoress Sisters opened a maternity hospital on Merryland Street, which later transitioned into a nursing home. A new building was established in 1996, and the care home maintains a Christian focus with regular Mass services, although it describes its operations as non-denominational.

Last year, the care home reported total income exceeding £2.3 million, with spending on charitable activities surpassing £2.2 million. Despite its relatively recent recognition among Scotland’s top care homes in a national ranking, the organisation is currently facing scrutiny due to the fraud allegations.

Police have charged a 50-year-old woman in connection with the case, although she has yet to appear in court. The care home and OSCR did not respond to requests for additional comment. The investigation is ongoing.