High Court orders Northamptonshire care home to relinquish control

A privately-run care home has been ordered to hand over responsibility for its residents to the local health and social services after inspectors found they were at “serious and immediate risk.”

Active Care Partnership Ltd, a subsidiary of the Southern Cross Healthcare Group Plc, was asked to relinquish control of health and welfare at the Alton Centre care home in Knuston Spinney, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

The order was made following an inspection on 6 August that found poor standards at the home. The Commission for Social Care Inspection identified concerns about nutrition and hydration, care of wounds and the management of medication and medical conditions.

The CSCI advised Active Care Partnership Ltd of its concerns but was not satisfied with their response. The commission obtained an urgent court order from a magistrate on Thursday 7 August to cancel the registration of the home.

Active Care Partnership Ltd made an application to the High Court to try to overturn the urgent cancellation order. But at a hearing yesterday the judge ordered the PCT and council to manage the residents until the company’s appeal to the Care Standards Tribunal, which is due to begin at the start of September.

Northamptonshire Council and Primary Care Trust have sent in a team of nurses and carers to work with and supervise staff in caring for the home’s 28 residents, who have physical disabilities and need nursing care.

Norwyn Cole, CSCI’s regional director for the East, 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 council and the primary care trust in the residents’ interests. We will of course contest the company’s appeal to the Care Standards Tribunal.”

Outside Left’s view here