Criticism Over Social Care Provision In Cornwall

More needs to be done to protect vulnerable adults in Cornwall, according to a draft report. The findings by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) follow an abuse scandal at Budock Hospital and the murder of Steven Hoskin in 2006.

CSCI said while Cornwall County Council had made some improvements, there remained a number of areas of concern, including assessments of need.

The council has refused to comment on the findings.

Mencap spokesman Reg Broad said the inspectors’ findings were fair but also devastating.

“I’m sad, because it’s a fair length of time since the last CSCI report and I’d hoped we would have moved on,” he told BBC News.

A serious case review by the Cornwall Adult Protection Committee in December said Mr Hoskin had been failed by every part of the social system.

The 38-year-old, who had learning difficulties, was tortured by a gang and then taken to a viaduct and forced to hang from railings, where he fell to his death.

In 2006 the health secretary apologised to people in the county with learning disabilities after a CSCI report highlighted “widespread institutional abuse” of patients at Budock Hospital.

A council spokeswoman said the council would not comment on the findings which were from a leaked, confidential report.

The full CSCI report is due to be published next month.