Blue Ribbon faces urgent CQC investigation over fresh abuse allegations

Fresh allegations of abuse and assault at Blue Ribbon Healthcare Group, a private care company looking after adults with learning disabilities in North West England, have prompted an urgent response from the Government and the care regulator.

The Department of Health and Social Care said the revelations were disgraceful and disturbing. The Care Quality Commission will look into the matter urgently. The CQC was already investigating Blue Ribbon after an earlier expose in July. Since 2022, more than 130 alerts have been raised with the regulator about the company's care, including 80 related to safeguarding. Four homes and services run by Blue Ribbon have had their quality ratings suspended. After the first investigation, Andy Burnham intervened and said there must be consequences.

One mother has described how her son, who has learning disabilities and needs 24-hour care, was allegedly sexually assaulted by another resident in 2024. The alleged attacker was meant to have two staff with him at all times but was left with one, she was told. A speech and language therapist used laminated sheets showing a body and asked the son to point to where he had been touched. He pointed to his arms, then his penis, then his bottom, and never changed his account. His behaviour became extremely withdrawn.

The mother wanted him moved to another home. She said she repeatedly asked how he could be expected to live in the same building as his alleged attacker. He remained in the same home for another 10 months. A carer, John Hill, reported concerns about the alleged assault. He said he was suppressed after raising multiple concerns about the alleged attacker's behaviour and resigned soon afterwards. He said there was no doubt the resident had sexually assaulted another resident.

Police reviewed the circumstances but decided it was more appropriate for the local council to deal with the allegation. A letter obtained by the investigation shows the council investigated and took steps to ensure the alleged victim's safety. It later recommended moving him away from Blue Ribbon. The alleged perpetrator could not be moved because he was under the care of a different council.

Blue Ribbon said the allegations were historic and had been investigated fully at the time by the police, the CQC and the council alongside the company. None of those investigations substantiated the serious allegations. It said it understood the family's distress but denied that the family had not been informed at the appropriate time or that staff were suppressed. Records show none of the nine staff interviewed believed there had been a sexual assault, the company said.

The family also found that hundreds of pounds had been stolen over two years from a cash card that staff had access to. They requested bank statements and found transactions, including unaccounted Uber payments. Police were called. An internal investigation found unaccounted payments and other transactions. Blue Ribbon said there was no evidence of theft but repaid £479 as a gesture of goodwill.

Separate recordings from 2022 reveal a carer screaming and shouting at a resident with severe learning disabilities who needed 24-hour care. The resident had soiled himself and smeared it on the walls. Blue Ribbon said appropriate action was taken against the employees involved.

The investigation also heard from Sam, whose daughter Amber is still cared for by Blue Ribbon. Amber needs two-to-one care around the clock. Sam fears for her safety because of understaffing and said some staff have been working 60 to 64 hours a week. Amber became seriously unwell in April and was in hospital for five months. Four and a half weeks ago the family was told to prepare for the worst. Sam said she had no email or phone call from Blue Ribbon asking how her daughter was. Blue Ribbon said it had sustained engagement with Amber's family in the spring and summer of this year. Another mother has now got her wish, with her son no longer in Blue Ribbon's care.

The findings emerged as Labour conference delegates prepared to hear a speech on social care. The case is a reminder that social care is not only about elderly people, finances and who pays, but also about the quality of care and safeguarding for adults with learning disabilities.