SOCIAL workers have moved in to a home for the elderly in the
Highlands to look after the 21 residents following an investigation into
allegations of ill-treatment of them and sexual harassment of staff.
Owners of the Balmoral Lodge in the Ross-shire spa village of
Strathpeffer have been informed by Highland region that they are to be
stripped of their registration.
Social work managers moved in at the weekend following a private
meeting of the Registration Panel and gave Mr Bill Monaghan, his wife
Margaret, and son Paul the ultimatum: agree to social workers moving in
or we will move the residents out.
The social work move followed a police investigation at the large
stone house which can accommodate up to 28 residents.
A spokesman for Northern Constabulary said: ''A complaint has been
investigated by the police and nothing of a criminal nature was
revealed.''
Confirming the move at the weekend a spokesman for Highland region
said: ''At a private meeting of the registration panel, certain matters
relating to the suitability of those running the home were discussed and
the owners of Balmoral Lodge were notified of the decision to move to
deregistration. They have 14 days to show reason why this should not
happen.''
It is understood several of the staff of 20 have left or been
suspended recently and complaints from them led to the social work
investigation.
An insider said yesterday that the Monaghans had run Balmoral Lodge
for almost 10 years and were ''devastated'' by the allegations.
She said: ''The home is inspected by the council three or four times a
year and there has never been any trouble before. I know the Monaghans
intend to fight this all the way.
''Apart from the police, who found nothing, the social work department
have had all sorts of people like environmental health and even the fire
brigade in to inspect Balmoral Lodge.''
At the home, there was ''absolutely no comment'' from the Monaghan
family.
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