HIGH profile abuse scandals involving vulnerable victims nationwide have prompted Middlesbrough Council to probe its own policies for safeguarding adults in residential care.

From 2013 to 2014 alarm bells known as ‘alerts’ rang 1,100 times at the town’s care homes of which 312 cases were treated as serious safeguarding issues.

Increased training and awareness and an eagerness to self-report issues such as medication errors accounted for the fact that 65 per cent of alerts received came from care homes which may represent under-reporting in the local community, members of the council’s social care and adult services scrutiny panel heard.

Alerts could also be concerns raised over carers abusing or neglecting a resident or family members raiding the finances of elderly relatives.

“We get alerts from care homes which might refer themselves, a whistleblower or a member of the public who thinks “I’ve seen something I’m not happy with”,” said Erik Scollay, Assistant Director of Social Care.

“We do receive information from aggrieved members of staff or sometimes a former member of staff with a grievance or sometimes it is a legitimate concern – they are all investigated and we share information with the police."

The meeting held at the town hall heard that all the town’s care homes are reviewed each year. Files are cross referenced with daily logs to ensure that all incidents, such as falls, are properly recorded and appropriate action is taken.

Only the Quality Care Commission had the power to shut down care homes, Mr Scollay explained, but those that did not comply with procedures could have their contracts suspended by the council which prevented them from making money by housing new residents.

“The problem is that there could be a number of adults who are quite settled there and it’s their home so it’s something we use very sparingly,” he said.

Councillors agreed that they would like to hear from several care home managers at their next discussion.

The topic was selected for scrutiny following several high profile national abuse scandals including Winterbourne View private hospital near Bristol which was exposed by the BBC's Panorama in 2011.

An undercover reporter recorded secret footage of patients being abused by carers which appeared to show sickening scenes of vulnerable residents being pinned down, slapped, doused in water and taunted.

Councillor Jeanette Walker added: “The issue isn’t just about hitting or depriving, it’s the financial aspect as well. I know instances of people going into hospital and not having any basic toiletries with them. It’s not just about physical abuse it’s mental abuse as well.”