Wolverhampton care home staff members suspended

Three members of staff at a care home in Wolverhampton have been suspended over an allegation of mistreating a resident. Police are investigating an allegation at Waterside House, Wednesfield.

The MHA charity, which runs the home, said on 2 June it received a report about an incident. The home cares for about 60 people with dementia.

Wolverhampton City Council said it was working to ensure residents “are receiving safe and appropriate care”.

The charity, formerly known as Methodist Homes for the Aged, said on 2 June it received a report about an incident and as a result, three members of staff were suspended immediately.

Police, the Care Quality Commission and the city council’s protection of vulnerable adults team were “all informed straight away”, it added.

‘Appropriate care’

The charity said: “As the incident has been referred to the police and is the subject of a preliminary inquiry, we cannot comment further at this stage in order to avoid prejudicing their investigation.”

The council said the home was run by the charity and the authority “has a contract with MHA to place up to 45 people with dementia, both long-stay and respite, at Waterside”.

It added after contact it received from MHA last week “regarding an allegation of mistreatment made by a member of their staff, our adult safeguarding team co-ordinated a safeguarding investigation together with the police”.

Tony Ivko, council assistant director for adult social care and housing support, said: “This has now led to the police initiating their own investigation into the allegation.

“While inquiries are taking place, we are working with MHA to ensure that the residents at Waterside are receiving safe and appropriate care.”

The West Midlands force confirmed it had received an allegation of mistreatment of a resident at Waterside House and “at this early stage, officers are making preliminary inquiries into the allegation”.