Residential homes 'must be monitored' says peer

First Edition

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday warned local authorities to monitor standards in residential care homes, following reports in the Independent of allegations of serious abuse in two homes in Buckinghamshire.

Baroness Cumberlege, an Under- Secretary for Health, told peers at Question Time: 'Those authorities who place people in residential homes do have a responsibility for their welfare. It should never be a case of out of sight, out of mind. It is unfortunately not possible to eliminate all risks. But current procedures should identify abuse and, if it occurs, enable appropriate action to be taken.'

Lord Rix, chairman of the mental health charity Mencap, asked the minister whether she was 'satisfied with the procedures which exist for the protection of vulnerable adults in residential homes', after the Independent reported allegations of sexual and other assault in two private homes in Stoke Poges.

Buckinghamshire County Council chose not to publish a report on the allegations, by internal inspectors, last June. The homes remain open. The council has said that the new management has made improvements and that the couple who formerly ran the homes, Gordon and Angela Rowe, now have nothing to do with them.

Thames Valley Police raided the homes and other properties belonging to the Rowes last month and seized what is alleged to be hardcore pornography. An investigation is under way.

Former staff members have claimed that residents were systematically humiliated. One was allegedly hosed down with ice-cold water and another force-fed. Another claimed he was forced to have sexual intercourse with animals. One staff member claimed that Mrs Rowe masturbated residents.

Buckinghamshire insists that it acted properly in allowing the homes to remain open.

Lady Cumberlege said the Social Services Inspectorate was looking at all social services departments. Lord Ashley, the Labour peer, called for national standards and national monitoring of homes, but Lady Cumberlege said local authorities should be the first tier of regulation.

She added: 'We do recognise that brutality does not take place where one has a culture that is open and involves other people. Mencap and other organisations are increasingly involving volunteers in the inspection process. The more we can involve the community in these homes, the less chance there is of abuse.'

The inspection process would be reviewed next year to meet the principles of the Citizen's Charter.

The Audit Commission has been called in by Buckinghamshire, the only Conservative-controlled county council, to investigate how the direct labour organisation running its roads unit managed to 'lose' nearly pounds 2m in the past 18 months.

There is no suggestion of corruption but the council is worried about financial and management practices and competence.