Malpas care home manager suspended for 12 months following fitness to practise hearing

Mary Gallen-Friend, who ran The Old Hall residential home in Old Hall Street was called to the fitness to practise hearing, charged with a number of counts.

In 2017 an inspection was carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which found the home inadequate on a number of counts.

The CQC inspection report, which was published on 3 November 2017, concluded that the home was not safe, was not responsive and not well-led.

It also concluded the home needed to improve in relation to being effective and caring. The home was given an overall rating of inadequate.

The inspection from the CQC came about after a resident, known as Resident A at the hearing, died in hospital after suffering a fall at the home.

At the time of inspection there were 11 residents living in the home, known as Resident A through K at the hearing.

In relation to Resident A, the hearing found Ms Gallen-Friend Failed to ensure that a risk assessment was carried out by an occupational therapist in relation to the use of a stand aid or sling and that she moved Resident A without up to date moving and handling training and that these actions contributed to the injuries and/or death of the resident.

In relation to Resident B's weight loss, the hearing found Ms Gallen-Friend failed to take adequate action, failed to ensure that the GP reviews were followed up, failed to ensure that a referral was made to the dietician and failed to ensure that adequate records were kept of Resident B's food and fluid intake.

Other charges brought forward by the hearing included a failure to ensure the accurate monitoring of medication stock levels for Residents C and I, failure to ensure two or more members of staff with moving and handing training were on duty during shifts and failure to ensure a risk assessment of falling was conducted after Resident H was found on the floor during the night on three separate occasions.

After much deliberation on the appropriate sanction, the panel came to the conclusion that a suspension of 12 months was appropriate.

The panel concluded that the aggravating features in the case were the pattern of serious misconduct over a period of time and the potential for resident harm.

Mitigating factors included Ms Gallen-Friend's demonstration of insight and remorse, extensive efforts made to address the shortcomings and a lack of previous concerns in a lengthy career of 40 years.

With these factors in mind, the panel deemed taking no further action, or issuing a caution were not sever enough, but being struck off would be too harsh.

The panel concluded that a period of 12 months suspension would be sufficient to satisfy the public interest and concluded that there was no need for a review at the expiry of this order.