Care homes provider ADL fights allegations

Accusations of ill-treatment levelled against a care home provider will have serious repercussions for organisations that look after people with dementia and other conditions, the company has warned.

ADL issued the warning as it denied multiple counts of ill-treatment and neglect brought against it and four of its current and former employees. The allegations relate to Newsham House, Gloucester, a home for people with dementia and other mental health problems.

The charges follow a two-year investigation by Gloucester police and the Commission for Social Care Inspection. The incidents are alleged to have taken place between July 2003 and July 2005.

ADL said it hoped the charges would be dropped “once the issues have been explained in the proper context of how this valued resource and respected care home cares for people with challenging needs”.

But it added: “If ADL can be charged in this way, the whole of the industry that provides much-needed care to people with complex needs is equally at risk.”

ADL, which runs nine other care homes and has more than 300 beds, added that Newsham House had been regularly inspected by CSCI in the 26 months since the investigation was launched.

More information
Gloucester Police statement 
CSCI reports on Newsham House

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Mithran Samuel