Care home worker accused of ill-treatment ‘a victim of staff shortages’, court hears

A CARE worker accused of ill-treating three vulnerable adults at a Forest of Dean home was a victim of staff shortages and double-shifting, Gloucester Crown Court was told yesterday.
Prosecuting barrister Kerry Barker told the jury 46-year-old Brent Morgan, of Eastern Avenue, Mitcheldean, had been tired and irritable when he ill-treated residents at Woodlands Care Home in Longhope.

Summing up, Mr Barker said: “The home was often understaffed and the company would not pay for agency work, which led to double-shifting and workers working longer shifts.”

The barrister criticised the home for keeping no staff records or details of staff appraisals or records of the investigation into allegations against Morgan.

Defending barrister David Martin, in his summing up, said: “It is ludicrous to suggest that with disturbed patients flailing their arms about, shouting and so forth, there is no need for restraint. But you, the jury, must decide whether that restraint amounted to deliberate and persistent ill-treatment.”

Morgan has pleaded not guilty to six counts of ill-treatment.

The jury will be sent out to consider their verdict tomorrow.