Reference :
Abuse at Castlebeck Homes – Response from Islington
03/08/2011
Following the Panorama expose of abuse of residents at Winterbourne View – a care home managed by Castlebeck for people with learning difficulties - DAII wrote to Islington to ask if any local residents were placed in Castlebeck Homes and if so how was th
Following the Panorama expose of abuse of residents at Winterbourne View a care home managed by Castlebeck for people with learning difficulties - DAII wrote to Islington to ask if any local residents were placed in Castlebeck Homes and if so how was their safety being ensured. We also asked for general details of how all care homes were monitored and reviewed.
We received a response from Dawn Wakeling, Service Director, Adult Social Care, part of which we reproduce below: In terms of Castlebeck, we immediately checked to see if any Islington service users were placed at Winterbourne View, the home featured on the programme, and none are. We also have checked to see if any Islington users have been placed in any other establishments owned or run by the company that owns Winterbourne View. We have identified a very small number of users, who have all been reviewed very recently and we are additionally reviewing them again in light of the programme. We contacted the host local authorities of the homes in which our users are placed and have had feedback that there are no safeguarding concerns about these particular homes. We have also agreed our approach to addressing potential quality issues in the Castlebeck group with a representative from the Family Carers Reference Group, Jean Wilson. In terms of the safety of individual users and carers, the main route is the safeguarding adults process. Anyone can raise a concern about safeguarding that will be responded to under the Safeguarding Adults procedure via the Access Team on 020 7527 2299. All concerns are investigated, and the police involved if necessary. Staff members of any organisation can raise a concern about a care establishment via our dedicated Quality Network reporting system on 020 7527 8348.
If you would like to see the full response, please contact Liz Mercer at DAII: Tel: 020 7354 8925 Email: liz@daii.org
The BBC has subsequently reported that Castlebeck has suspended more members of staff at another of its care homes, Villa Rose Care Home in Bristol. The suspensions come after inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) raised safeguarding concerns. An additional member of staff was suspended in June 2011 following allegations by a whistle-blower.