Inquiry into allegations of abuse at North Yorkshire home

AN investigation is under way into allegations that staff at a care home have mistreated vulnerable patients.

The Northern Echo understands that at least two members of staff have been suspended from work at Southwoods Nursing Home, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

Complaints concerning the alleged bullying of colleagues are also understood to have been made.

North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire County Council’s social services department are investigating the allegations.

The privately-owned red-brick home, in the town’s Thirsk Road, caters for about 35 mainly elderly residents.

A police spokesman said officers were investigating “some concerns” that had been raised in recent weeks.

He said steps had been taken to ensure residents’ welfare.

The Northern Echo understands the allegations made regarding the treatment of residents are towards the bottom end of a hypothetical scale of severity.

The allegations came to light when a relative of one of the home’s residents contacted The Northern Echo.

The family member, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said: “It seems there are various different threads to the complaints – one is the alleged bullying and harassment of staff.

“It looks like there are also concerns to do with record-keeping.

“The difficulty is that some of the residents at Southwoods cannot speak very well and cannot remember things, so it is really difficult to know exactly what has happened.

“As I understand it, it seems that the people who are the most vulnerable, who have the least capacity to speak out, are the worst affected, which is horrendous, if it is true.”

It is understood that staff are giving statements to investigators regarding the complaints.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “We can confirm that officers are working with the adult social care team to investigate some concerns at a nursing home in Northallerton.

“All necessary precautions have been taken to ensure the welfare of residents.”

The county council declined to add to the statement.

Staff at the home have also declined to comment, with one saying it was a private matter and was “being dealt with”.

Efforts to contact the care home’s owner, understood to be a businessman based outside the region, have been unsuccessful.