Regulator acts to protect at-risk care home residents
15 August 2008
A care home has been told by a High Court judge that it must
hand over the responsibility for the health and welfare of its
residents to the local social services and primary care trust.
This follows urgent action taken by CSCI after serious concerns
emerged about the safety and welfare of people living at The Alton
Centre care home in Knuston Spinney, Wellingborough,
Northamptonshire.
CSCI carried out an inspection at the home on Wednesday 6
August. Key issues concerned nutrition and hydration, wound care
and the management of medication and medical conditions. Standards
were so poor that inspectors considered there was a serious and
immediate risk to the life, health and well-being of the
residents.
The Commission advised the company that owns the care home,
Active Care Partnership Ltd, a subsidiary of the Southern Cross
Healthcare Group Plc, of its concerns but was not satisfied with
their response.
As a result, the Commission, using its statutory enforcement
powers under the Care Standards Act 2000, obtained an urgent court
order from a magistrate on Thursday 7 August to cancel the
registration of The Alton Centre.
Northamptonshire County Council and Northamptonshire Teaching
Primary Care Trust sent in a team of nurses and carers to work with
and supervise the home’s own staff in caring for the 28 residents,
who have physical disabilities and need nursing care. The Council
and the PCT have also been keeping relatives informed of the
situation.
Subsequently, Active Care Partnership Ltd made an application to
the High Court to try to overturn the urgent cancellation order. At
a hearing yesterday (14 August) His Honour Judge Ousley ordered
that the Primary Care Trust and the County Council would manage and
supervise the care and health needs of the residents until the
outcome of an expedited appeal by the company against CSCI’s
decision to apply for the cancellation order.
The appeal has been made to the Care Standards Tribunal, an
independent body. The hearing is scheduled to begin during the week
commencing Monday 1 September.
CSCI’s Regional Director for the East, Norwyn Cole, said:
“We are pleased that these temporary arrangements have been
approved by the judge to protect the welfare of the people living
at The Alton Centre. We have worked closely and in partnership with
the County Council and the Primary Care Trust in the residents’
interests. We will of course contest the company’s appeal to the
Care Standards Tribunal.”
Notes for Editors
- The order made in the High Court states that employees of
Northamptonshire County Council or Northamptonshire Teaching
Primary Care Trust will “manage health and welfare issues in
respect of residents, specifically the drafting and implementation
of care plans”; and that qualified nurses employed by the Primary
Care Trust will provide “nursing assessment, observation and care
of residents”. They will also provide nursing and nursing advisory
support for the home’s own staff and will be responsible for
nursing care decisions.
- There is no connection between The Alton Care Centre and
another privately-owned care home, Southfield Care Homes, in
Brackley, which had its registration cancelled by CSCI through an
urgent court order on Friday 1 August. All the residents at
Southfield have since moved to other accommodation. (Southfield
Care Homes should not be confused with Southfields House in
Farmhill Road, Southfields, Northampton, which is run by the County
Council.)
- In both cases, CSCI, the County Council and the Primary Care
Trust have worked together to ensure the well-being and safety of
the residents. This has demonstrated the strength of the
safeguarding arrangements between the three agencies, which enable
them to share information and take swift action when vulnerable
adults in Northamptonshire are thought to be at risk.
- CSCI is the single inspectorate for adult social care in
England, responsible for regulating and inspecting social care
providers -whether in the public or independent sector - and for
assessing the performance of local councils in delivering their
personal social services functions.
- The Commission's primary aim is to improve social care by
putting the needs of people who use care services first.
- The Commission is chaired by Dame Denise Platt DBE and has five
Commissioners. The Chief Inspector is Paul Snell. CSCI staff work
across seven regions in England.
Media contacts
- Ray Veasey 020 7979 2094
- Andy Keast-Marriott 020 7979 2093
- James Hedges 020 7979 2089