Care home facing closure after inspectors raise safety concerns

An Aberdeenshire care home faces possible closure after concerns were raised about the health and safety of its residents.

Bonnyton House, in Ellon, was served with an improvement notice by the Care Inspectorate earlier this year, setting out requirements for the home to meet.

But Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) has now cancelled its contract with the home, saying it has not been assured that the improvements have been made and sustained.

The home's owner Obinna Tochukwu disputes that assessment, and told BBC Scotland News the loss of the contract meant Bonnyton House would probably have to close within the next month - with 24 jobs at risk.

The care inspectorate report published in May said that health, safety and wellbeing was at risk at Bonnyton House because of how the service was provided and managed.

Inspectors found the home was understaffed, with some employees lacking the right knowledge, skills or training.

There were issues with residents not being given regular baths, with health and safety checks, and with the food on offer and its preparation and handling.

The Care Inspectorate has since inspected the facility again and said it had found some evidence of improvement.

However, AHSCP said it would no longer place new residents there.

The home has capacity for 14 residents, but only two people are currently living there after residents were offered alternative placements.

The Care Inspectorate said in a statement: "Our most recent inspections of this service found some evidence of improvement. An inspection report will be published on our website in due course."

The statement added: "We have extended the time the care provider has to ensure previously identified improvements are embedded and sustained.

"We continue to monitor the service to ensure the wellbeing of residents and to support improvement."

Rachel Taylor, AHSCP's interim partnership manager, said the organisation had been working closely with Bonnyton House, providing "intensive support and oversight".

This has included regular assurance visits, staff training, leadership support and, most recently, an experienced manager being based at the home full time.

She said there had been some positive changes, but AHSCP's priority was the safety, wellbeing and quality of care of residents.

"We have therefore decided to end our contract with Bonnyton House and will not place any further residents there through the National Care Home Contract," she said.

"We have worked closely and compassionately with residents and their families to identify appropriate alternative placements. We will continue to provide oversight and support while residents remain at the home."

She added: "The contract termination process is under way. Any future commissioning decision would need to be considered on the evidence and circumstances at that time, including the home's regulatory position and our assurance about the safety, quality and sustainability of care."

At the care home, Tochukwu said it was still working through the improvement notice from the Care Inspectorate.

"We have made huge improvements," he said.

Tochukwu said the home could not get any new residents in because of the improvement notice, and because the contract had now been cancelled.

"We have made every effort to improve things," he said.

"They are focusing so much on the negatives. There's no care home that is perfect.

"We are very, very close to letting staff go and closing the doors. This place will be closed in probably the next month."