Social work boss is “uncaring and untrustworthy”

Dumfries & Galloway’s social work department has been accused of being “deliberately misleading” by an organisation involved with a Castle Douglas care home.

And the Friends of Dunmuir Park (FDP) group has made formal complaints about the “deliberate failure” of the authority to ensure maintenance and repairs were carried out at the home.

They claim there were “repeated requests” to carry out maintenance, which has not been done, resulting in “dangerous” chairs being provided for the use of residents.

A council spokesperson said they would investigate the matter.

The council previously tried to close the care home for adults with learning disabilities in 2006 but FDP was instrumental in winning the fight to keep it open.

They wrote letters of complaint to the council’s chief executive, Gavin Stevenson, and the Care Commission following a meeting between trustees and residents last week.

In the letters, FDP chairman, Mary Sproat, raised what the group believes is the “apparently deliberate failure” by the council to carry out basic maintenance despite repeated requests and reassurances.

She wrote: “This has put residents and staff at risk whilst dangerous dilapidated chairs, some having already collapsed, continue to do so.

“At the FDP meeting last week, also attended by several residents, the care staff struggled to find enough basic dining chairs to sit around the table.”

She accuses the authority of being “deliberately misleading” by not keeping promises to carry out repair and maintenance work at the home.

A council spokesperson said: “The chief executive’s office is in receipt of the complaint letter from the Friends of Dunmuir Park.

“The council takes all complaints seriously and keeps the information given to it confidential and in line with Data Protection and Freedom of Information laws. The council has laid down a procedure to follow for all complaints.

“With care services, the complainant can refer a matter directly to the Care Commission and we understand they have also received this particular complaint.

“The council will, of course, liaise closely with the Care Commission during the progress of the complaint and respond directly to the Friends of Dunmuir Park in due course.”