CSCI acts to cancel Southampton care home's registration
29 September 2008
The social care regulator, the Commission for Social Care
Inspection (CSCI), has obtained a court order to cancel the
registration of a residential care home in Southampton after the
safety and welfare of the elderly residents was judged to be at
serious risk.
Using its legal powers, the Commission successfully applied for
an urgent order from Southampton Magistrates' Court today (Friday
26 September) to cancel the registration of The Briars Retirement
Home, in Thorold Road, Bitterne Park, Southampton. This means the
home cannot legally continue to operate.
The application to the court followed concerns that led to the
launch of a Police investigation last week. CSCI inspectors
subsequently carried out an inspection of the privately-owned home
and found some of the residents needed urgent nursing care.
Staff from Southampton City Council and Southampton City Primary
Care Trust have assessed each of the residents, to ensure that
their health and care needs are addressed, both in the immediate
and long term, while seeking alternative accommodation for
them.
CSCI's Regional Director for the South East, Amanda Sherlock,
said:
"The Commission seeks an urgent cancellation order only when it
considers people to be at serious risk. The decision is never taken
lightly. We know all too well the impact that the closure of a home
can have on the people who live there, their families and their
carers, as well as members of the staff.
"We have worked closely with the Council and the PCT to try to
secure the safety and welfare of the residents, but it had become
clear that The Briars could not give them the level of care and
support that they need.
"We could not allow this to continue, and that is why we sought
the urgent order to cancel the registration of the home
immediately, under Section 20 of the Care Standards Act 2000."
Notes for Editors
1. The Briars Residential Home was registered to provide
personal and nursing care for up to 34 elderly people. At the time
its registration was cancelled, there were 24 people living there.
The home has the right of appeal to the Care Standards Tribunal, an
independent body. Pending the outcome of an appeal, the home cannot
legally remain open.
2. CSCI is the single inspectorate for adult social care in
England, responsible for regulating and inspecting social care
providers -whether in the public or independent sector - and for
assessing the performance of local councils in delivering their
personal social services functions.
3. The Commission's primary aim is to improve social care by
putting the needs of people who use care services first.
4. The Commission is chaired by Dame Denise Platt DBE and has
five Commissioners. The Chief Inspector is Paul Snell. CSCI staff
work across seven regions in England.
Media contacts:
- Ray Veasey 020 7979 2094
- Andy Keast-Marriott 020 7979 2093
- James Hedges 020 7979 2089