The Charity Commission has appointed interim managers to a social care charity as it conducts a statutory inquiry into trustees’ response to safeguarding concerns.
Its appointments come after Devon and Cornwall Autistic Community Trust transferred its adult social care services to other providers.
In June 2022, the regulator began investigating the charity, also known as Spectrum, after a series of critical inspections of its adult care facilities by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
CQC’s inspections of the charity’s adult care facilities found five to be inadequate and eight requiring improvement, with some highlighting safeguarding concerns and risk of financial abuse.
As part of the Charity Commission’s investigation into the trustees’ response and decision-making in relation to the safeguarding concerns, it appointed Guy Hollander and Mark Boughey of Mazars LLP as joint interim managers of the charity on 9 February 2023.
“The appointment has been made over continued concerns regarding the leadership, management, and governance of the charity,” the Commission’s statement read.
“The interim managers are appointed to the exclusion of the trustees, meaning that they will be responsible for all aspects of the charity’s governance in place of the trustees.”
Transfer of services
Meanwhile, the charity’s adult social care services have been transferred to another provider, Modus Care Ltd, however it still operates Three Bridges School and two children’s residential facilities.
Mazars partner Boughey commented: “Our immediate priority is to work closely with the existing trustees, staff and volunteers to stabilise the position following our appointment and facilitate the ongoing provision of services, which we recognise is critical for the beneficiaries of the charity in both the near and longer term.
“Our wider role is to then assess the viability of the charity, alongside undertaking a detailed review of governance and the administration structure, and then make our recommendations to the Charity Commission on a way forward”.
“We will be working closely with all stakeholders, including Cornwall County Council, to address any immediate questions and concerns and will be meeting with the carers and parents of the beneficiaries over the coming weeks to provide as much assurance and clarity as we can in relation to the charity’s provision of services both in the near term and in the future.”
The Commission’s inquiry remains ongoing.
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