Castlebeck owners confirm administration, with 16 care homes up for sale

It has been confirmed that Castlebeck, the care provider at the centre of the Winterbourne View care home scandal, has now entered administration.

The following statement has been issued jointly by the Department of Health, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and the NHS Commissioning Board.

‘The owners of Castlebeck have today announced that the company is going into administration. This note is to provide you with some information on the process that we expect will follow. Administrators will begin a planned process, seeking buyers for the 16 Castlebeck facilities and whether or not buyers are found for all the facilities, the ongoing care of patients and residents will be the priority and Castlebeck and the administrators are committed to working with local commissioners to ensure safe transfer ownership of facilities and continuity of care for individuals.

‘Our information is that there are currently 166 people accommodated within Castlebeck facilities and commissioners will include both NHS organisations and local authorities up and down the country. Some of the residents should already be having their care needs reviewed as part of the response to the Winterbourne Report and authorities should not make any immediate changes to their plans for reviews or care plans arising from these reviews.

‘A list of facilities in England is attached and more detailed information will emerge in the next few days and weeks. Castlebeck and their administrators will be in touch with host and commissioning authorities and it is important that CCGs/PCTs and local authorities work closely with them and with people using the services, their families, carers and advocates as future plans for each facility emerge.’

ADASS president Sarah Pickup looked to reassure concerned parties, commenting: “The care of the current patients and residents of Castlebeck homes is our priority.”

Castlebeck have had a troubled time in the public spotlight since the revelation of care home abuse that occurred at its Winterbourne View facility, in Bristol. The abuse was uncovered by a BBC Panorama investigation that was broadcast in 2011.

Winterbourne View has since been closed and reopened by another provider as a health centre.