The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has welcomed the Safeguarding Adults Review published today (Monday 12 March 2018) by the London Borough of Enfield’s Safeguarding Adults Board.
Andrea Sutcliffe, CQC’s Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, said: “Sexually abusive behaviour is an utter violation of people’s basic human rights. It is clear that Hillgreen Care Ltd should have properly identified this type of serious risk and should have ensured that people in their care were protected from harm. This was particularly important given the duty of care the provider had for people with learning disabilities who were affected.
“The review makes a number of recommendations for improving practice and procedures which we accept. We will continue to work together with local authorities and other agencies in order to strengthen the joint working between everyone who is involved in listening and responding to people in vulnerable circumstances who use care services, and preventing sexual abuse from happening.
“As the quality regulator of health and care services in England, we have powers to hold providers to account when they have caused avoidable harm to people in their care or placed people at significant risk of harm. We are currently in the final stages of a criminal investigation and a decision is expected soon.
“We also commissioned an independent investigation on our regulatory actions into care services run by Hillgreen Care Ltd which we will report on publically when this work has concluded.”