Carers accused of mistreatment (From Southend Standard)

Carers accused of mistreatment

10:10am Thursday 21st March 2013 in Echo News

THREE carers have appeared in court accused of badly treating residents at a home for people with learning disabilities in Leigh.

The men are alleged to have committed the offences at Southwold House, Cliff Road, on June 3 last year.

Robert Johnson, 34, of Scarborough Drive, Leigh, Rodrigo Diazon, 38, of North Avenue, Southend, and Thubeluhle Ncube, 24, of Artillery Avenue, Shoebury, have now appeared before Southend Magistrates’ Court.

Bob Rowlingson, prosecuting, told how the crown’s case is the offences were committed against two men within the home.

All three face a charge of being a carer who ill-treated, or willfully neglected, a person who they believed to lack mental capacity, under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Johnson is alleged to have committed a slapping offence, while Ncube is accused of spraying a fully-clothed resident with a shower.

Diazon, manager at the time, has been bailed to appear before Southend Magistrates Court on April 15 for a committal hearing.

Meanwhile, Johnson and Ncube were bailed to appear at Basildon Crown Court next month when they are expected to enter pleas.

According to the Care Quality Commission, Southwold House provides accommodation and support for up to 12 people with learning disabilities. Reports show that in February there were seven people using the service.

A spokesperson for Southwold House said: “We can confirm that three former members of staff were suspended in June 2012 following serious concerns raised by other colleagues.  We immediately notified the appropriate authorities and commenced an investigation, during which one individual resigned and two were subsequently dismissed.

“The health and wellbeing of the people we support is our number one priority and we will always act in their best interests.  While the court proceedings are ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment further.”