A Devon care provider has been ordered to pay £33,661.60 at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court after it failed to protect residents from avoidable harm.
Teignbridge House Care Home Limited, which runs Teignbridge House in Teignbridge, Devon, was fined £21,000 and ordered to pay £12,491.60 costs and a £170 victim surcharge.
On 27 April 2018, a Mr. Bondi, who was a vulnerable person, was able to climb out of an unrestricted window in his first-floor bedroom at Teignbridge House.
Bondi subsequently fell from the roof, landing on the concrete below and sustaining a number of life-changing injuries.
Following this incident, the provider undertook an audit of windows in the home. A further 17 windows were identified as lacking window restrictors, exposing other service users at Teignbridge House, a number of whom suffered from dementia, to a significant risk of avoidable harm.
Teignbridge House Care Home Limited pleaded guilty to failing to provide safe care and treatment to Bondi, resulting in him being exposed to a significant risk of avoidable harm.
Care Quality Commission head of inspection for adult social care Amanda Stride said she welcomed the guilty pleas from Teignbridge House Care Home Limited.
“People have every right to expect safe care at Teignbridge House, but the provider failed in its specific legal duty to protect residents from being exposed to a significant risk of harm,” she added.
“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.
Stride continued: “I hope this prosecution reminds care providers that they must always ensure people’s safety and manage risks to their wellbeing.”
