Powys border care home residents moved by Shropshire Council

Shropshire Council has confirmed that the remaining residents at Keegan’s Court Residential Care Home in Bishop’s Castle have been found new accommodation after the company running the facility was deregistered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

This came after repeated safeguarding concerns including allowing former staff members accused of abuse on site and one incident where residents were put at risk of hyperthermia after the provider knowingly allowed the heating to fail for around three days.

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Councillor Cecilia Motely, cabinet member for adult social care, public health and communities at Shropshire Council said the council moved as soon as the announcement was made.

“Shropshire Council’s key priority is the safety and wellbeing of our most vulnerable residents and we believe people living in residential settings, should be treated with the utmost dignity and respect,” said Councillor Motely.

“The day we received the announcement from the CQC, our teams immediately stepped into action and worked with the CQC and agency staff at Keegan’s Court to facilitate the rehoming of those who were still living at the home to seek alternative accommodation.

“The two remaining individuals who are self-funders, were supported into new accommodation on the same day and have now settled into their new homes.

“The council supported individuals to move early on in the year due to the concerns, and worked with the people and families we placed at Keegans Court to identify suitable new placements and support them to move and settle into their new homes where they receive the care and support that meet their needs.

“Those who were self-funding were asked if they also required support in moving, but they declined the support at that time.”

The company which ran the home has now been deregistered by the CQC which will now mean they will not be able to run a home in the future, a decision that has been backed by the council.

“The council had been looking into a number of quality issues with owners of Keegans Court following an inspection by the CQC in July 2022, rating the home as inadequate,” said Councillor Motely.

“In addition to this, despite working on a plan with the owner to seek to address the concerns raised by the inspection, there have since been a number of contract breaches with the council by the owner. We therefore welcome the CQC decision to remove the provider's registration.”