Disability charity Scope has been cleared of wrongdoing over its programme of care home closures, the Charity Commission announced today.
The regulator opened an operational compliance case into the charity after receiving complaints by “people who were very concerned that the charity was not properly considering the wishes or needs of its beneficiaries”, according to the case report published today.
But the regulator said its investigation found no “regulatory concerns”.
“While the closure of care homes is likely to be a difficult and controversial process, it is for the trustees to determine how a charity carries out its objects having followed a proper decision making process,” the regulator said.
Scope announced plans to close 11 of its 35 care homes in January last year. The programme affected 190 disabled residents and around 400 staff but was one the charity insisted was the best decision for the charity’s beneficiaries.
There was widespread criticism in the media when Scope made this announcement.
Strategy for change
The regulator’s case report today said the charity felt the homes were "not aligned" with its "strategy to drive change across society".
But it said the Commission was “clear from the outset” that it was "for the trustees to direct and plan the longer term strategic direction of the charity and decide on the best way to further the charity’s objects”.
It said that given the charity’s high profile, it “wanted to be sure that the trustees were aware of their legal duties to ensure that their decisions were based on sufficient and appropriate evidence”.
The regulator said it received evidence that the charity consulted with beneficiaries and enabled them to express their views through an independent advocacy service.
“The charity was able to show us that it has provided increased levels of support for customers and staff during the consultation process at each home,” the regulator said.
During the consultation, Scope “learned lessons, adapted and improved the process,” it said.
The Commission said it was satisfied that Scope's trustees maintained “oversight and control of the senior management team" as well as the "care homes review programme”.
Mark Atkinson, interim chief executive at Scope said today he was "reassured that the Charity Commission has no regulatory concerns regarding our plans to change or close a number of our care homes".
“We know that this has been a difficult time for residents and families and that moving home can be challenging," he said.
“We have been fully committed to supporting residents and families at the eleven care homes, through consultation and independent advocacy.
“Everyone is different and people will want different types of care. We have recently closed three care homes and supported everyone to find a suitable new home and in some cases receive additional social care funding; some moved to supported living, others to larger care homes and some moved closer to their families,” he said.
'Being the change in ourselves'
In an interview with Civil Society News last year, former Scope chief executive Richard Hawkes defended the policy and said the charity wanted to change society’s perception of disabled people.
“In the old charity world, the staff ‘cared for’ the beneficiaries. In the new charity world, our employees are there to enable disabled people to live the lives they want to lead,” he said.
Last October, former chair of Scope Alice Maynard said the charity was “being the change in ourselves that we want to see in the world”.
Maynard said the charity was catering to “a generation of people who didn’t want to be taken care of but wanted to have the opportunity to take care of themselves”.
