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More care needed over handling elderly’s goods
A HIGH-level council report into the care of the elderly and their possessions has admitted ‘weaknesses’ in the system – but claims the overall procedures are sound, and stops short of calling in police.
New Journal probes into the failure of Camden Council to locate the relatives of 92-year-old Dorothy Robinson before reclaiming her council flat and ‘dumping’ its contents – which were later found in an antique shop – prompted the political heads of the Housing and Adult Social Care (HASC) departments to order a four-week review into procedures.
The report, seen by the New Journal, examines taking control of assets and decisions of the vulnerable, terminating tenancies, and clearing properties.
It concluded that: “Although our existing procedures are basically sound, there are a number of weaknesses in situations where tenants are not able to make informed consent.”
It lists problems in the amalgamation of the housing and social services departments, ‘general weakness in practice’ where staff are required to take inventories, and a need to take more measures to find next of kin, but adds that improvements in most areas are already in hand.
Report author Catherine Illingworth, interim assistant director of renewals in HASC, said last night: “We need to be clear how we find next of kin, and clear about how we dispose of goods.
“We haven’t got answers now to all of those. But we haven’t found any massive gaps, we haven’t found anywhere where things are hugely wrong.”
Cllr Martin Davies, who as boss of Adult Social Care ordered the review, said: “If there is any suggestion that staff are profiting from house clearance we will investigate – and if we do find any evidence we’ll take the toughest action possible.”
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