Whalley-based Calderstones NHS Foundation Trust is issued with enforcement notice

An investigation by Monitor, the health service regulator, found ‘safeguarding’ shortcomings by Whalley-based Calderstones NHS Foundation Trust over care of a resident at Scott House, Norden, near Rochdale.

Eight staff at the home, which cares for people with mental health needs and learning disabilities, alongside rehab patients, were suspended last May over mistreatment allegations.

An inquiry by Greater Manchester Police, assisted by Rochdale social services, ended without criminal charges. And Monitor has been probing the Mitton Road-based trust since August over suspected breaches of its NHS licence. Under a notice received by the trust on December 30, an action plan should have been lodged with Monitor by the end ofyesterday.

Trust chief executive Neil Hindle and his team must then draw up a ‘protection plan’ for Scott House and demonstrate how lessons have been learned from the episode.

Monthly briefings on progress must be also be filed with Monitor. The trust could be punished for non-compliances.

Trust bosses say a wider examination of procedures at Calderstones found no abuse concerns beyond the Scott House incident. Mr Hindle said: “This single incident was immediately and vigorously investigated by externally-led bodies. The police inquiry is closed and we are redoubling our drive for the very highest standards. We have made significant, trust-wide changes to make certain that standards continue to rise.”

The trust also commissioned an external review by Deloitte, after concerns were expressed by Monitor in November 2012 concerning ‘poor board relations and insufficient dispute resolutions’.

In the past year, Rupert Nicholls took over as Calderstones’ board chairman from John Berry, who left along with three other directors.

In a follow-up report by Deloitte, published last October, external assessors found there had been ‘limited progress’ on original difficulties discovered within the organisation.