Latest news with #BryonyHouse
BBC News
10-08-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Selly Oak care home for elderly placed in special measures
A care home for the elderly has been placed in special measures after a watchdog found "widespread issues", including staff who failed to treat residents with House in Selly Oak, Birmingham, which looks after 26 adults including those living with dementia, has been downgraded to an inadequate rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).The CQC said its inspection was carried out in part due to concerns it received after a person using the service House's manager Lorraine Whittaker said in a statement staff were demoralised by the report and challenged some of the allegations made. CQC inspectors found care had deteriorated and the service breached five legal regulations relating to safe care, safeguarding, the physical environment, management and treating people with home has been given the lowest possible rating of inadequate for being safe and well-led, down from requires for being effective, caring and responsive have also dropped, from good to requires CQC said it would now closely monitor the home to ensure residents' safety while improvements were action is also being taken to address concerns, which the home has the right to resident's death was not examined as part of the inspection in May, the CQC said, as it was subject to further inquiries. 'Unacceptable treatment' CQC's deputy director for the Midlands Amanda Lyndon said widespread issues were staff members were also seen acting "inappropriately towards a resident" during the inspector's visit, Ms Lyndon said."Managers didn't have an effective strategy to prevent inappropriate behaviour or take action to safeguard people when bullying, harassment or abuse happened."It is unacceptable that people who relied on staff to act as their advocates, in a place they called home, treated them this way."Managers have been informed where "rapid and widespread" improvements are needed, with the CQC returning to check progress at a later date. In a statement on Bryony House's website, Ms Whittaker said the report did not "fully or fairly reflect the work, dedication, and commitment of our care team" and included "a number of allegations and findings that we believe were either inaccurate or not properly investigated".She said several points raised were not discussed with staff at the time and did not "accurately reflect the day-to-day operations or the care provided"."Our team - many of whom have served this home and its residents with compassion and professionalism for years - feels demoralised by how their efforts have been portrayed," she home was taking steps to identify areas for "genuine improvement, while also challenging inaccuracies through the appropriate channels," Ms Whittaker said staff were committed to working with the CQC to ensure the home moved out of special measures quickly. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Global News
14-05-2025
- Global News
Gender-based violence: N.S. committee hears distressing testimony from mother of four
A Nova Scotia legislative committee heard disturbing testimony Tuesday from a mother of four who described how her spouse allegedly subjected them to harassment while the police and courts seemed unable to help. Lucy Bowser's raw account of her family's struggles were part of a wider discussion about gender-based violence. Several other advocates and government officials offered their take on what needs to be done to counter a problem that the province declared an epidemic last September. 'We have been left for years feeling helpless and scared,' Bowser told the health committee. 'This is a ticking time bomb.' She said her youngest children, ages 16 and 14, allegedly endured threats of kidnapping and harassment of every form, which left them traumatized. Her daughter did not leave their home for two years, and her son encouraged her to sleep with a crowbar in her bed for protection, she said. Story continues below advertisement Bowser also recalled how her children were so fearful of what would happen that they would send her texts to make sure she was still alive. 'They live on the edge of an impending emergency,' she told the committee. When she approached police for help, she said she faced resistance and a 'cloud of doubt.' Getting a no-contact order from the courts was a difficult process filled with barriers, she added. Bowser said that earlier this year, her spouse was criminally charged, but she did not offer details. 2:25 Gender-based violence expected to increase: Victim Services of Durham Region In the past seven months, police in Nova Scotia have reported the deaths of seven women were the result of intimate partner violence, a distressing spike that has led to increased scrutiny of how the province is responding. Story continues below advertisement Rachel Shepherd, executive director of Bryony House, said the emergency shelter for 36 women and children in the Halifax region is consistently full and always has a waiting list. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'In the past year, our team has responded to thousands of calls and texts on our distress line,' she said. 'We sheltered hundreds of women and children — for some, as long as 12 months.' Other advocates made it clear that getting predictable, long-term funding was an ongoing problem. Ann de Ste Croix, executive director of the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia, described gender-based violence as a 'public health crisis,' adding that as of last year, Nova Scotia recorded Canada's third highest rate of femicide, which is defined as an intentional killing with a gender-related motivation. 'Too often, women and their families who seek safety are met with systemic gaps instead of support,' she said. 'We're seeing a growing number of women showing up at shelters with complex and intersecting needs, such a trauma, substance use and mental health challenges — yet few have access to the services required.' Susan Leblanc, an Opposition NDP member, reminded the committee that the public inquiry into the Nova Scotia mass shooting recommended that governments should contribute 'epidemic-level' funding to programs aimed at combating intimate partner violence. That recommendation was in response to evidence that the man who killed 22 people in April 2020 began his rampage by brutally assaulting his common-law wife. Story continues below advertisement 'We know we have an epidemic,' Leblanc said. 'Are we actually working with epidemic-level funding?' Meghan Hansford, manager of housing with Adsum for Women and Children, said that wasn't the case. 'There's a lot of work to do,' she said. 'The programs that are operating right now are overwhelmed and exhausted. Every day it is hard to offer hope to those we are serving … We need epidemic-level funding.' Two government officials told the committee that the province considers dealing with gender-based violence a high priority. The Justice Department, for example, has established a gender-based violence division and has provided $7 million for domestic violence courts, counselling for victims and other programs. As well, the government's spring budget set aside $100 million to deal with gender-based violence, which includes $17.9 million over four years for the Transition House Association.
