Tag Archives: Learning difficulties
Don’t just blame staff – companies must be ‘accountable’ for care home failings
Minister pledges new rules to ensure firms which fail vulnerable patients are punished
Nina Lakhani
Tuesday 13 November 2012
Private companies which get public money to run care homes will be made “corporately accountable” for poor standards, the Care Services minister has pledged.
Norman Lamb said he would address regulatory gaps to ensure there were consequences for firms which failed vulnerable patients in hospitals or care homes. At present, care home staff and managers are more likely to be held accountable for abuse than the companies, executives and investors that actually profit from failing homes.
Jo Whiley: Carers aren't recognised or given enough support
Radio 2 DJ and TV presenter Jo Whiley, 47, has four children, aged from four to 20. Her sister has a learning disability and she worries about what will happen with her in the future.
My sister Frances is three years younger than me and has cri du chat, a learning disability. As a child, I became protective of her and took on more of a caring role, which I see in my own children. They always go out of their way to help Aunty Frances and my parents. If you have someone in your family who can be demanding, as Frances can be, you have to help and be more aware of people.
I used to take Frances out quite a lot when we were growing up. We had a mutual love of music and we’d get the bus to town on Saturdays and buy 7in singles for her record player at home. We went to Cornwall recently on holiday, my family and my parents, to give them a break while my sister stayed with someone. We walked past a record shop and my dad nipped in to see if he could find any records for the jukebox at home for Frances. We have Frances and the things she might like in our minds all the time.
Winterbourne View: Care workers jailed for abuse
Six out of 11 care workers who admitted a total of 38 charges of neglect or abuse of patients at a private hospital have been jailed.
Five other workers from Winterbourne View near Bristol were given suspended sentences after the acts of abuse were uncovered by BBC Panorama.
Ringleader Wayne Rogers, 32, who admitted nine counts of ill-treating patients, was jailed for two years.
Judge Neil Ford QC said there was a “culture of cruelty” at the care home.
‘Vile and inexcusable’
