Call For Urgent Care Centre Probe

Highland councillors in Lochaber have called for an urgent external investigation to be carried out at a Fort William care centre, following a second damning Care Commission report.

As the Lochaber News revealed last week, inspectors have ordered Highland Council to conduct a full investigation into alleged bullying and threatening behaviour by staff at the Angus Centre, a facility providing support services for up to 45 adults who may have a learning or physical disability.

The commission found no evidence that serious concerns raised in a previous report had been addressed. The council has provided an action plan to the watchdog body outlining how it intends to meet the requirements laid down in the new report, which was published on May 8.

However, Lochaber councillors insist only an external investigation can put things right at the centre.

Councillor Bren Gormley (Fort William and Ardnamurchan) told the Lochaber News: “Last week I received, together with other councillors, a letter from a concerned family member of a young adult attending the Angus Centre which expressed a range of concerns and frustrations.

“I wholly accept that the writer of this letter felt the need for anonymity and in the circumstances I, and fellow councillors, understood this. It does not allow us to respond directly but I can assure all concerned that the seriousness of the situation is grasped and action is under way.”

He continued: “Sadly, the individual and public concerns over the operation of the Angus Centre are not new; clearly there are fundamental issues that have never been addressed properly. Discussions with all Lochaber councillors earlier this week showed a shared view that this needed to be addressed urgently and properly.

“I have been in contact with the director of social work, emphasising not only the individual concerns raised but also the deeply corrosive local opinions arising from successive failures to resolve matters. I have insisted that only a full external investigation can both put things right at the Angus Centre and restore public confidence in the management of care services in Lochaber by Highland Council’s social work department.”

Councillor Gormley said that he would continue to press hard on this matter, both with the director of social work and housing and the newly formed social work committee.