Labour council ignores ‘safeguarding concerns’ in care homes privatisation push

Labour-led Kirklees Council is facing an upswell of criticism over highly controversial plans to privatise two dementia care homes.

Campaigners accuse the council of overlooking glaring safety concerns, and “a live safeguarding investigation” into the company – Mulberry Care Homes, which is seeking to buy these homes.

The council claims it has “no safeguarding concerns”.

Profit over people

The families affected by the privatisation plan say the West Yorkshire council has failed to listen. They have already taken the council to court. And expressing “serious concerns” in a new press release, they said:

Councillor Nosheen Dad, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, recently told a concerned family member that the Council has “no safeguarding concerns” about the company; however, a safeguarding investigation involving one of the provider’s existing homes remains active and ongoing.

Mulberry Care Homes claims to be a specialist in dementia care. However, this self-designation only came after the council selected it as the preferred provider. This was despite Mulberry’s track record. It has a short tenure in dementia care, with it operating two of its homes for less than two years.

The local community’s concerns are compounded by an active safeguarding case, after a family pulled their “highly vulnerable” relative out of a Mulberry home amid ongoing safeguarding issues.

The press release added:

Councillor Dad has publicly repeated that the Council holds no safeguarding concerns regarding Mulberry Care. The family has received no acknowledgement or response from Councillor Dad to the follow-up letter they submitted seeking clarification.

In addition, the resident’s case was passed to the Council’s Accommodation Hub weeks ago, yet no case worker has been allocated. Since leaving the home, the resident has gained 7.4 lbs; families say this supports their concerns about the quality of care previously received.

A representative for the family stated:

It is very concerning that a live safeguarding investigation appears to have been disregarded in the Council’s public statement. Families making decisions about care need transparent and accurate assessments, particularly when vulnerable dementia residents are involved.

Cancel the privatisation!

Campaigners have called for an independent review of the council’s decision-making processes, due diligence procedures, and oversight mechanisms, and for the council to scrap the sale — the only responsible way forward. Meanwhile, the Care Quality Commission recently assessed the council’s role as a commissioner of adult social care and ruled that it ‘requires improvement’.

A spokesperson for the campaign said:

The Council must demonstrate that its decisions are based on evidence and competent assessment. Given the unresolved safeguarding case, Mulberry Care’s unproven dementia-care credentials, and the Council’s own ‘requires improvement’ rating, cancelling this sale is the only responsible and safe course of action.

The People’s Alliance for Change and Equality (PACE) — which has been backing efforts to form a new left-wing party — are supporting the families standing up to the council.

PACE’s Mike Forster told the Canary:

The Council’s plan to privatise these homes is completely flawed. They have done a deal with Mulberry Care irrespective of the consequences. We wholly endorse the campaign’s demand that this whole sorry saga is brought to an end and that an independent inquiry is immediately instigated.

The council must start listening to local communities instead of gaslighting them.

If the council continues to prioritise negligent care home providers, the grassroots pressure will force them to face the consequences.

Featured image via Socialist Alternative