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Review published by Cumbria SAB

Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board has published the findings and learning from a Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR) by Margaret Flynn into incidents of physical, sexual and emotional abuse of residents in a Cumbrian nursing home, Beacon Edge.

Beacon Edge was owned and run by BUPA Care Homes (CFChomes) Limited as a specialist dementia home, providing care and support for up to 37 people with dementia type illnesses. The nursing home is now closed.

The abuse was highlighted by a newly appointed member of staff who observed disrespectful and cruel behaviour towards residents by an existing member of staff during her first night shift.  The newly appointed worker was ‘shadowing’ two members of the care staff throughout this shift and on challenging them about their behaviour, was told ‘it’s just a laugh’.

Safeguarding alerts were reported to Adult Social Care the next day which resulted in a thorough and robust investigation taking place, which was led by the Police. Extensive evidence was retrieved from the mobile phones of three members of the care staff who were subsequently arrested and charged with s.44 offences under the Mental Capacity Act, and one carer with an additional charge of sexual assault. The investigation identified a number of victims of the abuse within the care home by the three workers. All three care workers were subsequently prosecuted and all received custodial sentences.

Margaret Flynn is the author of the review into the Winterbourne View private hospital which was published in September 2012.

Click here for a Learning Brief.

Click here for the full report.
 


Published