Family set up camera to record gran’s care home ‘abuse’ ordeal at Ash Court Care Centre

Published: 30th June, 2011
by TOM FOOT

A FAMILY who set up a secret spy camera in a privately run care home claim they have recorded footage of an 80-year-old great-grandmother suffering abuse.

The alleged victim’s daughter, Jane Worrall, said she disguised the device in a fake clock and fixed it in the corner of her mother Maria’s bedroom at Ash Court Care Centre in Kentish Town.

A 30-year-old member of staff at the home was arrested on suspicion of common assault last week and an investigation has been launched by the Town Hall. The staff member has not been charged. Four female care workers are being investigated by the home.

The family said the footage – which was ­taken over three weeks, in colour – revealed physical and mental abuse of Ms Worrall.

It was set up after they became concerned about bruising on the arms of the former Belsize Park primary school dinner lady. Ms Worrall is severely disabled through arthritis, struggles to speak and requires round-the-clock care. 

Her granddaughter Becky Worrall, who lives in Gospel Oak, told the New Journal: “There are some people in the home who have no relatives. But with us, they have picked the wrong family. We visit every day. We take Nan out when we can. We notice the differences in her.”

The allegations come just weeks after a BBC Panorama programme exposed claims of abuse at a home for vulnerable adults at a Bristol care home. Ms Worrall was moved into Ash Court, in Ascham Street, from Wellesley Road last year, after Camden Council announced it would close the local authority-run care home. 

Becky said the family had decided to keep Ms Worrall in Ash Court because there were “no other care home places left in Camden”. The home was being particularly careful about her mother now, she added, and Ms Worrall had a Camden social worker stationed in her room, taking notes, between 8am and 8pm.

Becky, a former pupil of Parliament Hill School, revealed that the situation had arisen as she grieved for her father who died last year. She added: “We were all shocked when we watched it. We are devastated. I don’t know how anyone could do something like that – it’s a feeling of power or something.”

There are 35 other Camden residents with physical disabilities ­living in Ash Court, which has 62 rooms. A further 19 residents have been placed there by the primary care trust, NHS Camden.

According to Town Hall accounts published online, Camden Council pays the home around £1.6million a year. 

Fees for residents range from £692 to £1,100 a week. 

The home has consistently achieved a three-star “excellent” rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 

After the arrest, the Town Hall sent 12 social workers to speak to residents. A Town Hall spokesman said: “The council has interviewed all residents at Ash Court who had direct contact with the accused and this appears to be an isolated incident. 

“These interviews took place the day after the accused was arrested and we can confirm that no further allegations have been made by other residents of the home. 

“As an additional step, social workers from the council will be interviewing the remaining residents of the home.”

A spokesman for Forest Healthcare Ltd, the private company that runs the home, said the centre’s experienced manager, Nancy Rasool, had been “shocked and disappointed” after viewing the footage and confirmed four other members of staff are subject of an internal review. 

The statement added: “The dignity, health and wellbeing of all the people we support at Ash Court remains our number one priority.”

Camden’s adult social care chief Councillor Pat Callaghan said: “Members of the council’s adult social care team are ­currently working with officers from Camden police to investigate the incident.” 

A Met Police spokes­man said the member of staff was taken to Central London station and bailed to return on July 19.”