A member of staff in an independent sector nursing home used the company’s whistle blowing procedure to make a number of complaints about the home. As some of this information indicated that a criminal offence might have taken place the member of staff was interviewed by the Police.

Within three working days a strategy meeting was set up under Cambridgeshire Social care services Adult Protection Procedures with the following agencies attending:

• Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)
• Police 
• Social Services Contracts Unit 
• Social Services Locality Team Staff 
• Social Services Care Placements Manager 
• Adult Protection Co-ordinator

 

Actions from the Strategy Meeting included:

• Staff from the CSCI and the Social Services Contracts Unit and the Police carried out a joint unannounced visit to the home.
• Police interviewed the manager
• Consultant pharmacist to the National Care Standards Commission carried out an announced visit to the home
• It was found that many of the initial allegations made by the member of staff had already been dealt with by the home’s manager. Nonetheless an action plan was agreed and implemented following investigations.

 

It was agreed that all issues had been thoroughly investigated, with the action plan and future monitoring of the home to be carried out by CSCI and Social care services Contract Unit to ensure the future protection of the residents of the home.