Two people have been charged by police amid shocking allegations of abuse at a Fife care home.
Four members of staff at Chapel Level Care Home in Kirkcaldy have been suspended pending an investigation into claims that an elderly resident was assaulted last weekend.
Fife Council’s social work department and the Care Inspectorate are also involved in the probe.
Stunned relatives were told of the alleged incident after being called to a meeting at the £800-per-week home on Thursday.
The Courier understands another worker at Chapel Level reported an assault, said to have happened during the night.
A spokesman for the 60-bed home, which provides dementia, nursing and residential care, confirmed the allegations were serious and said immediate action had been taken to suspend the staff members.
They said all appropriate authorities, including the police, had been informed and added: “The health, safety and wellbeing of the residents we support are our top priorities.”
An anxious family member of one of the home’s residents said she had been extremely shocked to hear the claims at the meeting.For the latest on this story, see Thursday’s Courier or try our digital edition“We all got a letter on Monday asking us to come to a meeting and if we couldn’t come we should make arrangements to speak to the owners of the care home,” she said.
“We didn’t know what it was about but we went to the meeting and there were lots of families there.
“When we were told what had happened people were in tears and shocked and were looking for assurances about their own relatives.
“It happened at the weekend, at night, and that’s all we know.We don’t know who was involved or anything else.
“Are they trying to sweep this under the carpet?”
She added: “It was reported by another member of staff so it’s good to know there are at least some people prepared to put their jobs on the line.”
The spokesman for the home said: “We are deeply concerned by these allegations which go against everything we stand for as an organisation.
“We are working closely with the police and all relevant authorities to investigate what has taken place.
“We will always act to protect individuals in our care and do not tolerate the type of behaviour which is alleged to have occurred.
“While these investigations continue we are unable to comment further.”
Martin Thom, Fife Council’s older people’s services manager, confirmed the local authority is working with the police, the Care Inspectorate and the care home.
“The wellbeing of Fife’s most vulnerable people is our top priority,” he said.
A spokesman for the Care Inspectorate confirmed the body had been notified of the incident.
“The safety and wellbeing of everyone who accesses care is always our first priority and we are working closely with colleagues at Police Scotland and Fife Council to ensure residents are kept safe at Chapel Level Home,” he said.
“Everyone in Scotland has the right to safe, compassionate care which meets their needs and respects their rights.”
The spokesman said anyone with a concern about a care service can contact the Inspectorate on 0345 600 9527.
Chapel Level Care Home is owned by Darlington company HC-One which has 227 premises across the UK.The firm rose from the ashes of the failed Southern Cross group, which collapsed in 2011.Two chargedTwo women, aged 57 and 61, have been charged in the wake of the allegations.
Police confirmed the women were arrested as part ofthe investigation into an allegedassault at Chapel Level CareHome.
A spokeswoman for PoliceScotland said: “Police in Kirkcaldy investigating allegations of assault in a care home in Broom Road havearrested and charged two women aged 57 and 61.
“A report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal.”Home’s owner involved in previous scandalsThis is not the first time an HC-One care home has found itself at thecentre of a police probe.
A BBC Panorama investigation broadcast in 2014 uncovered abuse and neglect at the firm’s Oban House in South London and left viewers sickened by the sight of a 98-year-old great-grandmother being ignored by staff as she called for help more than 300 times in an hour.
Yvonne Grant was finally told to use her incontinence pad after asking 45 times to use the toilet.
Her disgraceful treatment in her final days was caught on a camera hidden in her room by her horrified granddaughter in 2012.
Two staff were later convicted of common assault.
HC-One chairman Dr Chai Patel described the failings as shocking and distressing and said they had been acted upon as soon as it was drawn to the company’s attention.
But he acknowledged that more needed to be done to ensure the safety of residents.
Despite some reservationsabout the filming of intimate careprocedures, Dr Patel later unveiled plans to offer CCTV cameras in residents’ rooms to help stop abuse, neglect and theft by staff.
He said a survey of 2,000 adults revealed 80% supported the move.
Residents rejected the idea during a consultation in 2014, however, and the cameras were never introduced.
The alleged incident in Kirkcaldy has left many families feeling anxious and, for some, it is the second time they have faced uncertainty.
In 2011, residents were among hundreds left in limbo when then owner Southern Cross, the UK’s largest care home provider, fell into financial difficulties and was forced to sell its homes.
HC-One was then formed and took over around one third of theSouthern Cross estate.