Ideal Carehomes has been fined £140,000 and ordered to pay nearly £15,000 in costs by Nottingham Magistrates Court for failing to protect a resident from an attack in 2017.
The court heard the victim suffered a serious head injury at the Bowbridge Court care home in Newark when attacked by another resident who had Alzheimer's.
The resident who caused the injury has been known to use frequent verbal and physical aggression, with at least 18 other incidents recorded at the care home.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), who prosecuted the case, said concerns raised prior to the attack on the then 93-year old victim – who recovered from her injuries - had not been addressed.
“The majority of care providers do an excellent job. However, when a provider puts people in its care at risk of harm, we take action to hold it to account and protect people,” said CQC deputy chief inspector for adult social care Mary Cridge.
“I hope this prosecution reminds care providers that they must always ensure people’s safety and manage risks to their wellbeing,” she added.
Ideal Carehomes pleaded guilty to failing to provide safe care and treatment to the resident, and to exposing other residents to a significant risk of avoidable harm.
“We deeply regret and take full responsibility for the incidents which occurred at Bowbridge Court in 2017 and we apologise sincerely for any distress caused,” said Ideal Carehomes managing director Stacey Linn.
“We acknowledge that, at the time of the incidents, the service fell far short of the extremely high standards we hold today,” she added.
