CSCI set to close Residential Care Home
CSCI acts to cancel Market Harborough care home's registration
The social care regulator, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), has obtained a court order to cancel the registration of a residential care home in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, after the safety and welfare of the elderly residents were judged to be at serious risk.
Using its legal powers, the Commission successfully applied for an urgent order from Leicester Magistrates' Court on Friday (28 November) to cancel the registration of Acorn Lodge Residential Home, in Northampton Road, Market Harborough. This means the home cannot legally continue to operate.
In a multi-agency response to concerns about the quality of care being provided at the care home, CSCI have worked closely with staff from Leicestershire County Council’s Adult Social Care Service, who on Friday evening moved all the residents from Acorn Lodge to alternative accommodation.
In addition, both organisations have been helping Leicestershire Police with enquiries into events that have allegedly taken place at Acorn Lodge. Two women aged 40 and 25 have been arrested on suspicion of ill-treatment and wilful neglect. They have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.
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CSCI's Eastern Region Director, Norwyn Cole, said:
“We carried out a scheduled inspection of Acorn Lodge at the beginning of September and found shortcomings in the standards of care. Following information we received about matters that are now under investigation by the Police, another inspection was carried out in early November. Inspectors found that standards had deteriorated further, and they had serious concerns about the threat this posed to the safety and welfare of the residents.
“Our inspectors subsequently visited the home frequently to monitor the situation but it became clear that the quality of care was not improving. We could not allow this to continue, and that is why we took the decision to seek the urgent court order, under Section 20 of the Care Standards Act 2000, to cancel the registration of the home.
"The Commission takes such action only when it considers people to be at serious risk. The decision is never taken lightly. We know all too well the impact that the closure of a home can have on the people who live there, their families and their carers, as well as members of the staff.
"The Commission, the Council and the Police are working closely together within the established multi-agency procedures for the safeguarding of vulnerable adults."
Detective Inspector Dave Richardson, from Leicestershire Constabulary, said:
“Our investigations into alleged ill-treatment and wilful neglect are continuing.
“We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously and work with our partner agencies to ensure that the most vulnerable are protected.”