The inquest into the deaths of six people at Brithdir Nursing Home has shone a spotlight on a dreadful set of circumstances, where the standard of care received by individuals at the home was woefully inadequate and, in these instances in particular, resulted in the deaths of vulnerable people who deserved proper care, dignity and respect.
The Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) Cymru Lead Director for Safeguarding, Lance Carver said:
“A significant amount has changed over the last fifteen years in relation to safeguarding vulnerable adults, which has helped professional leaders identify risks of substandard care, poor practice and oversight and put mitigation interventions in place to reduce the likelihood of such events happening again.
“The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016, has put safeguarding front and centre of day-to-day care delivery and creates a regulatory system that is centred around people who need care and support. Relevant partners are placed under a duty to report to the appropriate local authority where they suspect that people (adults or children) may be at risk of abuse or neglect, and families are also encouraged to speak up if they suspect something is not right with regards to the support their loved ones receive.
“There is greater oversight between Care Inspectorate Wales, care providers and local authorities and health boards, and a statutory registration process for care providers and the workforce.
“Regional Safeguarding Boards have been established to share issues of concern across local authority boundaries.
“Public sector partners have also implemented the recommendations that stemmed from the Welsh Government’s Review of Operation Jasmine, the investigation that exposed the negligence of Puretruce Health Care Ltd, owner of six care homes investigated for neglect, including Brithdir Residential Home.
“Moreover, while there has been considerable systemic change, the legislation and public policy direction has also changed the culture of safeguarding where it is now everyone’s business – local authorities, health boards, third sector and private providers, as well as members of the public."