Family's anger at sudden closure of care home

A council that closed a West Yorkshire care home with 24 hours' notice must be held accountable for its "distressing and atrocious" decisions, a former resident's family said.

Hazel Garth in Knottingley shut unexpectedly in May, with residents' belongings packed into bin bags and staff given no notice.

After an independent review found the closure "was not justified", a resident's daughter said the findings "stirred up all the anger and frustration" she originally felt at Wakefield Council.

The council said it would be making "fundamental changes" to how it cared for vulnerable adults.

Janine Hercock's mother Kath, 75, has advanced dementia and lived at Hazel Garth until her daughter received a call saying she was going to be moved to another facility the following day.

Ms Hercock refused to allow her mother to be taken to another home "with no preparation or care plan" so decided to move Kath to a care home in Surrey, near where she lives.

Since the closure, which the council said was due to staff availability and the physical state of the building, the authority has apologised and admitted the "seriousness of its failings".

But Ms Hercock, 52, said while the report was "honest", she still felt "shocked, disappointed and angry" about what it revealed about the council's culture.

"The fear of speaking up and not challenging people who make such important, life-changing decisions... a lot of people need to hang their heads in shame."

She added: "The council's accountability is non existent."

The report, which was carried out by Janet Waggott, a former chief executive of Selby District Council, also called for compensation to be paid for the distress caused to residents and their families.

Ms Hercock said she was not interested in financial recompense but wanted the senior council members involved to be disciplined and for a "line management overhaul".

"Councillors should be serving vulnerable adults and they're not," she said.

"They have made grave errors of judgement and I know these people are still in positions of trust... positions they do not deserve."

Hazel Garth was due to reopen on 9 September but this date has been delayed, according to the council.

The reasons for the closure still remained unclear, Ms Hercock said, though there were mentions of "fire doors" and residents' "physical needs".

Her mother is doing well in Surrey but if Hazel Garth reopened and was a closer option, Ms Hercock said she would move her back there immediately.

"I miss the provisions she had there - it was a Godsend.

"The need for residential care in the area is incredible and Hazel Garth is a valuable resource."

Wakefield Council leader Denise Jeffery said: “I’m deeply sorry to the residents, their families and our staff at Hazel Garth.

“We fully accept all of the recommendations from the review and we have already taken swift and decisive action."

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