Arden Valley Christian Nursing Home is part of a healthcare company that recently made £500m for its former private equity owners. Yet, within days of The Sunday Times uncovering evidence of abuse and neglect of the elderly at the home, inspectors confirmed its quality of care was “poor”.

A Merseyside care home is at the centre of a major probe into serious abuse of elderly residents. The Dales in West Kirby is being investigated after allegations that pensioners were mistreated.

{mosimage}The shocking concerns came to light when its new owner bought the premises in Marine Park just over a week ago.

At least 12 members of staff have since walked out of their jobs and The Commission for Social Care Inspection has been informed.

The allegations include:

• Cruel tricks such as cups of tea being hidden from residents

• Pensioners ordered to wash and dry the dishes

• Residents being fed in an unduly “restrictive” way

• Residents not being taken to the toilet and then wetting themselves

• Doctors not being called to the home despite repeated requests from residents

A dossier of the alleged incidents, which are said to have happened over the past 18 months, is being compiled and Merseyside police will be informed.

Next week is national adoption week and more children in Dorset need a permanent home than ever before, according to the county council.

A number of staff at a council-run residential home in Rotherham have been suspended amid an investigation into standards of care, it has emerged.

Seven men and a woman have been charged in connection with alleged child abuse in and around the New Milton area in the 1970s and 1980s.

The couple who had an 11-year-old boy removed from their care because they refused to sign new sexual equality rules have won their battle to continue fostering.

A chief constable is being investigated over his force’s dismissal of child abuse allegations against a judge.

The former general manager of a nursery school near Trowbridge accused of more than 40 child sex offences has had his case transferred to crown court.

Three wards dedicated to caring for patients with dementia are to be axed as part of a service shake-up by Sheffield Care Trust.

A female tennis coach has been jailed for two years and nine months for sexually abusing a schoolgirl. Claire Lyte, 29, was criticised by the judge at Liverpool Crown Court for telling lies to avoid conviction.