CQC takes enforcement action following care home sexual abuse allegations

Enforcement action is being taken by the CQC against a care home for adults with learning difficulties in Wiltshire following sexual abuse allegations.

The allegations regarding Rowde care home near Devizes were revealed by the CQC following an inspection in July, which rated the home ‘inadequate’.

Rebecca Bauers, Head of Adult Social Care Inspection in the South Central region, said: “Due to concerning information on 12 July, CQC inspected Rowde in Furlong Close, Rowde, Devizes, Wiltshire and have now recently published our findings.  The report states there were a number of concerns and also the action we are currently taking.

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“CQC have subsequently placed conditions on Rowde so they can not admit new people into the service.

“CQC are taking further enforcement action but for legal reasons we are unable to discuss [this]. In the meantime, we will continue to work with all stakeholders and monitor this service very closely.

“Our priority will always be to ensure consistently safe, effective and responsive care for people using health and social care services.”

The regulator said some of the allegations were historic and had taken place before the tenure of current provider Hft, while others had taken place under its governance.

A Wiltshire Police spokesperson told CHP that an investigation had taken place in October 2018 of a “non-recent incident” and it was found that no offences had been committed.

Chief Executive, Robert Longley-Cook, said Hft was “hugely disappointed” with the outcome of the CQC’s inspection, adding: “Within the report concerns were raised regarding allegations of sexual abuse. This allegation related to inappropriate comments made by one vulnerable adult who is no longer supported at the service and did not in any way involve our staff who work at the service.

“This was fully investigated at the time and appropriate action taken to safeguard the people being supported at the service. The individual was supported by Hft to move somewhere that better suit his needs.

“We have been working hard to address wider issues around incident recording and processes which have been exacerbated by the high staff vacancy levels within this particular service, rather than a breakdown in the care provided.

“We are strongly committed to fully addressing these concerns in our action plan. We have been working hard with our staff at the service to bring Rowde up to the high standards of support we expect across all our services.

“Of our 68 CQC registered locations Rowde is the only one currently rated as ‘inadequate’, and two in the neighbouring areas are rated as ‘outstanding’.

“We will be appealing this latest decision from CQC and are keen to invite CQC back to Rowde to inspect the improvements that we have made at the service over the last six months, when the report was first published.”