Complaint over Kingswinford care home management transfer

Dudley Council has decided to transfer the management of New Bradley Hall, in Kingswinford, to not-for-profit organisation Black Country Housing Group.

The council was forced to appoint an independent investigator following concerns by Phil Vanes, on behalf of New Bradley Hall Action Group, over the decision.

The investigation 'partially upheld' the concerns saying that campaigners were 'misled' in respect of the future plans for the home.

But investigating officer Debra Johnson said she did not believe this was 'deliberate'.

Two further complaints by the campaigners were dismissed over procedural matters.

Mr Vanes today confirmed they have taken the findings of the investigation to the Local Government Ombudsman.

The group have tabled an official complaint with the body which will now be investigated by the council watchdog.

A consultation carried out by Age UK Dudley early in 2012 found 75 per cent of people wanted New Bradley Hall to stay open as a long-term council-run home.

And the council's cabinet endorsed this view, known as option C, in June 2012.

But investigating officer Debra Johnson, in her report, found that a revised set of options was drawn up behind-the-scenes and discussed in January 2013 by the council.

This included the revised option to transfer the home into the hands of a not-for-profit group.

But campaigner Phil Vanes maintained they were not aware of these changes and believes the council should have run a second consultation.

The new plan was made public on September 27, 2013 by Councillor Dave Branwood, the lead member for adult and community services at Dudley Council.

The report states that a decision was realised in 'early summer 2013' but only made public in Sepetmber 27, 2013.

In response, the council's director of adult, community and housing services, Andrea Pope-Smith, said: "We welcome the Independent Investigator's detailed report which found the council has acted appropriately and legally in relation to New Bradley Hall.

"We have, and always will, put the needs of the people in New Bradley Hall first throughout our work in transferring the home to a not for profit organisation.

"A single recommendation was also made by the independent investigator to review the way we record our discussions and decisions, which we will of course carry out."