Disabled adults put at risk in care centre

Poor management and staff training at a care and respite centre in Plymouth put severely disabled adults at risk, according to a report by the Charity Commission.

Independence South West, the charity running the centre, came under scrutiny in November 2009 after its chair received two police cautions for fraud by false representation.

The Charity Commission’s subsequent investigation, opened in January 2009, showed the chair had misused the charity’s invoices and received unauthorised trustee payments in his other role as chief executive.

It also unearthed shortcomings in the management and training of care staff at the centre, which had led to “inadequate safeguarding procedures”.

“Vulnerable beneficiaries of the charity were put at risk of harm,” the final report found.

In December 2009, the commission appointed seven new trustees to the charity, including a new chair, and provided them with management advice. It closed its investigation last week.

“The atmosphere in the whole place feels better,” said Susanna Martin, deputy manager of Independence South West.

“We’ve had a massive push on training,” she added. “All mandatory training is up to date and supplementary training is there for people who want and need it.”

Independence South West aims to promote the care, welfare and education of people with cerebral palsy or other “profound” disabilities in South West England.

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