Latest news with #specialmeasures
The Independent
22-05-2025
- The Independent
Nottinghamshire Police removed from enhanced monitoring by watchdog
Nottinghamshire Police has made improvements and has been removed from an enhanced level of monitoring by a watchdog after being put into special measures last year. Last March, the East Midlands force was told to 'urgently produce an improvement plan' by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) after being put into special measures. The report came after the force was criticised for the way it handled of the deaths of Grace O'Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber, and Ian Coates, who were killed by Valdo Calocane in Nottingham in 2023. While the watchdog said the decision was not linked to the force's handling of the case, the news was nevertheless welcomed by relatives of Calocane's victims as a sign that inspectors recognised how the force needed 'intervention and urgent improvement'. The report last year ranked three of the eight areas of policing 'inadequate' in the review following an inspection from the end of 2023 to January. Forces are moved into special measures – which HMICFRS calls being subjected to an 'enhanced level of monitoring' under what is known as the 'engage' process – when they are not responding to concerns raised by the watchdog or are not 'managing, mitigating or eradicating these concerns'. Nottinghamshire Police has now been removed from 'engage' as it has made improvements, HMICFRS said. All police forces are in routine monitoring under the 'scan' stage by default, the watchdog said. HMICFRS said the improvements include: its management of crime, including supervision of crime and oversight of performance; its leadership and force management, including making progress in governance and the use of data. The chief officer team was visible and accessible, and inspectors found a positive culture and active participation in change across the workforce; and the way it is preventing and deterring crime, by addressing the issue of neighbourhood officers and staff being unable to spend enough time working in their communities. HM Inspector Roy Wilsher said: 'I am pleased with the good progress that Nottinghamshire Police has made so far. While there is still work to do, I have recommended removing the service from our enhanced level of monitoring, known as engage, and return it to routine monitoring. 'We are reassured by the plans the police force has in place to continue making improvements, particularly in relation to crime investigation, leadership, force management and neighbourhood policing. 'We will continue to assess its progress to make sure the people of Nottinghamshire are getting the service they deserve.' Calocane was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order last year for stabbing to death university students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, as well as school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, in the early hours of June 13 2023. Calocane admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility and pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of three people who were hit by a van stolen from Mr Coates, after Nottingham Crown Court heard he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. During a meeting with the Prime Minister in February this year, the families of the Nottingham attack victims were told a judge-led statutory inquiry would take place and that it would scrutinise a 'number of different agencies'.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- BBC News
Nottinghamshire Police taken out of special measures
Improvements at Nottinghamshire Police have led to the force being taken out of special measures by a police force was told to "urgently produce an improvement plan" by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in March after being put under an enhanced level of out of eight elements of policing were rated "inadequate" following an inspection from the end of 2023 to January Police said it had taken special measures "very seriously" and was committed to continued improvement. Police forces are moved into special measures and "an enhanced level of monitoring" by HMICFRS if they are "not effectively addressing the inspectorate's concerns".Nottinghamshire Police has now been returned to routine monitoring as it has made improvements in deterring crime, management of crime, its leadership and the culture across the workforce, HMICFRS said. 'We are reassured' HM Inspector Roy Wilsher said the progress was "pleasing".He added: "While there is still work to do, we are reassured by the plans the police force has in place to continue making improvements, particularly in relation to crime investigation, leadership, force management and neighbourhood policing."We will continue to assess its progress to make sure the people of Nottinghamshire are getting the service they deserve."Chief Constable Steve Cooper said: "This represents a significant step in the force's ongoing improvement journey to better serve communities across Nottinghamshire."We used this as an opportunity not only to deliver meaningful improvements that are embedded across our force, but to improve in all that we do."The changes we have made have improved the quality of service we provide to communities and victims of crime and we are committed to maintaining this and identifying any further improvements we can make."Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden said the lifting of enhanced monitoring was a "milestone moment" and the force needs to "keep up the pace" and "improve even further".The report's publication came shortly after the force was criticised for its handling of the Nottingham attacks, although the HMICFRS said special measures was not linked to the case.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'Inadequate' West Rainton care home put in special measures
'Inadequate' care home put in special measures 11 minutes ago Share Save Pamela Bilalova BBC News, North East and Cumbria Share Save Google The care home was rated "inadequate" after an inspection between last November and January 2025 A care home has been placed into special measures after a watchdog rated it as "inadequate". Springfield Lodge Care Home in West Rainton, County Durham, was inspected following previous concerns over medicines management and unsafe care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said action plans to address the issues had not let to improvements, which meant "people remained at risk of ongoing harm". However, it added most people had spoken positively about the service they received and had described staff as "caring and kind". Ascot Care, which runs the facility, has been contacted for a comment. The care home provides accommodation for up to 40 residents, some of whom have physical disabilities or dementia. Placing it into special measures means it will be kept under close review by the CQC and monitored to ensure improvements have been made. Victoria Marsden, CQC deputy director of operations in the north of England, said: "When we visited Springfield Lodge, it was disappointing to see a deterioration in the quality of care being provided to people. "Action plans to address previous concerns hadn't led to improvements which meant people remained at risk of ongoing harm." 'People at risk' Inspectors assessed the care home between November 2024 and January 2025. The overall rating for the service went down from "requires improvement" to "inadequate" following the visit, as did its ratings for being safe and well-led. It was rated as "requires improvement" for being effective and responsive. A CQC report said residents had told inspectors they felt safe at the service and appeared "happy and relaxed" around staff. However, the assessment found care records and medicine management did not meet expected standards which "placed people at risk of harm". "Leaders continued to manage medicines ineffectively. Some people weren't given medication as prescribed by their GP and some medications being out of date or unavailable which placed people at risk of ineffective treatment or harm," Ms Marsden said. Care records were not "cohesive or regularly reviewed" and some contained contradictory information and guidance, according to the report. The inspections also found not all staff had completed required training, including how to support people with a learning disability. However, the facilities were clean and there was positive feedback on changes the recently appointed manager had been trying to make. "It was also positive to see kind and caring interactions during our inspection, and people appeared to be happy and relaxed around staff," Ms Marsden added. The CQC has issued a warning notice to the care home and inspectors will return to check on progress. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
