NHS Trust Guilty Following Fatal Stabbing of Care Worker

Care staff are having to work with increasingly challenging service users, often inappropriately placed, without adequate training or supervision. Another tragic death …
Central Bedfordshire Council

20 July: Sentencing of former Dunstable care home owner and county NHS Trust
A county NHS Trust and the owner of a former Dunstable care home have been sentenced after being found guilty of safety failings following the fatal stabbing of a care worker at a private residential care home in Dunstable.

Kathleen Bainbridge, 58, from Luton was killed at Abacus House, on Princes Street, on 24 August 2007 by resident Stephen Flatt, then aged 55, who attacked her with a knife from a kitchen. Fellow care worker Barbara Hill, from Dunstable, was also attacked when she went to help her colleague.

A joint investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Central Bedfordshire Council found that Abacus House was not the correct care facility for Mr Flatt, who had been placed there by the Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

A trial at Luton Crown Court heard he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and that Abacus House staff had no expertise or training for dealing with people with this disorder, or for managing violent or aggressive behaviour.

Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust was yesterday (19 July) fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of £326,346 for breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 for its failings in relation to the fatal incident after being prosecuted by HSE.

The council brought proceedings at the same time against the owner of Abacus House, Chelvanayagam Menna, who was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay costs of £338,996 after being found guilty of breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the same Act.

After the sentencing HSE Inspector Karl Howes said: “This was a tragic incident that left a family without a wife, mother and grandmother. No-one expects to go to work and never return home.

“Care homes have a duty not only to protect the safety of their residents but their staff as well. The NHS Trust failed to adequately assess the risks that were posed to staff and other residents from placing Mr Flatt in Abacus House.

“I hope this will make all NHS Trusts and care facilities carefully consider the procedures that they have in place during patient placement.”

Councillor Budge Wells, Deputy Executive Member for Sustainable Communities, Services at Central Bedfordshire Council said: “The legal process has been long and difficult, particularly for Mrs Bainbridge’s family but also for her former colleagues – especially Mrs Hill.

“Of course the trial of Stephen Flatt had to take initial priority and once this was concluded the police instigated a further investigation of the Trust and care home owner. However the Council and HSE cooperated closely on their investigation from the outset and were in a position to progress with proceedings as soon as the police cleared the way.

“All concerned in the case hope that the right lessons are learned from this tragedy and that nothing of a similar nature occurs in future.”

Filed under: Impact Training, Other Mental Health, psychosis, trauma, Violence, care home, dangerous behaviour, fatal, NHS, stabbing, training, Violence

Lancashire social worker stabbed to death

writes Maria Ahmed in Community Care Magazine online News Section

A Lancashire social worker has been stabbed to death while on a house visit.

The attack occured this morning at Glebe Close, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire police said.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is being questioned by officers.

Councillor Chris Cheetham, cabinet member for adult and community services at Lancashire county council, said: “I can confirm a serious incident happened today involving an employee of the county council. It is with sadness we can confirm that one of our social care workers has died. We are not in a position to release any further details at this stage.

“We are assisting the police in their investigation. We will also be carrying out our own thorough internal investigation alongside our health partners, the Lancashire Care NHS Trust.

“This is a tragic incident. My first thoughts are for his family and friends. On behalf of the authority I would like to offer our sincere condolences. It is a dreadful loss.”

Filed under: Violence, Lancashire, lone-working, social worker, stabbing, Violence