Four arrested over alleged fraud at Willenhall care home

Three women, one aged 65 from Willenhall, another aged 47 from Wednesfield, and a third aged 35 from Albrighton, and a man, 37, also from Albrighton, have been questioned by officers over financial affairs at Manor House care home in Walsall Road, Willenhall.

The home was labelled 'not financially viable' by Walsall Council last year which had to step in after staff were not paid on time.

Receiver FRP Advisory was called in and the home put up for sale with Healthcare Management Solutions taking over the running of the home on an interim basis.

In July, Manor Care Group Ltd took over the home and has started refurbishment.

Director Lakhbir Singh said the home now employs around 30 members of staff and has 29 residents. No-one linked to the police investigation is now working for the company, he said.

He added: "We took over on July 22 and are undergoing a complete refurbishment.

"I specialise in taking over care homes that are in trouble and turn them around.

"We worked closely with the Care Quality Commission and Walsall Council so that staff did not lose their jobs and that the residents' care was not compromised."

He confirmed he was aware of the police investigation but said he was unable to comment.

Walsall Council care chief councillor Eddie Hughes, said: "Walsall Council welcomes the new owners, Manor Care Group Ltd and is working closely with them to ensure the welfare of service users is maintained under the new arrangements."

The last CQC inspection in August last year found the home needed to make improvements in the way it cared and protected residents and in the quality and suitability of its management.

But health and social care chiefs at Walsall Council said there are no issue over the quality of care provided. A CQC spokeswoman said they awaited the outcome of the police investigation and could not comment.

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Kate Baker said the four had been released on bail pending further inquiries.