NorseCare statement
NorseCare (Services) Limited pleaded guilty in December 2021 in failing to provide care and treatment in a safe way after a resident climbed out of a window and suffered minor injury.
The prosecution was brought by CQC after it was discovered that some of the window restrictors in place in October 2020 could be opened without the use of a key. A resident at the home sustained a fall and was injured.
At the sentencing hearing on 7 July 2022 District Judge Keane imposed a fine of £100,000.
The District Judge accepted that there had been substantial investment during the refurbishment of the home shortly before the incident and that NorseCare had relied upon its contractors to fit appropriate window restrictors. Whilst he stated that there had been a level of complacency in that the organisation had not checked that the locking system could be overridden, he stated that “this was not a case of profit before safety” that “lessons had been learned” and that NorseCare had “correctly and promptly reported the matter”.
A spokesperson for NorseCare said, “We deeply regret the incident and the injuries the resident sustained and have sincerely apologised to the family”. An inspection of all our care home windows has taken place, with all locks replaced with more robust fittings and a thorough system of checks established.
We are contacting the families of our Mountfield residents to clarify the measures introduced following this incident. We are offering a helpline (tel: 0333 188 0197) to support and reassure families of our residents.
