WINTERBOURNE VIEW

Within this report I am going to explore the issues regarding Winterbourne View (a residential home for people with learning disabilities) as investigated by the BBC programme panorama. I will also look at how the story was discovered by the media and the issues involved, as well as what the investigation resulted in.
The story first came to light when Terry Bryan (former nurse at Winterbourne View) called panorama regarding his concerns over safeguarding of vulnerable adults after several of his complaints to the owner of the home were ignored. This was after Terry Bryan’s complaints to BBC watchdogs was repeatedly ignored, as well. Safeguarding is the protection of vulnerable adults and children within care to ensure no maltreatment or that they are put at risk, once panorama had heard of the serious potential risk they then sent Joe Casey, who posed as a support worker and whilst undercover witnessed some shocking behaviour from other employees towards the residents. Joe Casey had discovered a distinct lack of safeguarding and care in the home.
Issues uncovered by the programme included some serious cases of neglect and abuse administered by the staff towards the residents, some of the staff were filmed beating and bullying residents. Mr McDonal (clinical psychologist) viewed the obtained footage and compared the behaviour to “torture” within this residential home which is supposed to be a therapeutic environment. Since this investigation launched the Care Quality Commission have confirmed over 4,300 complaints and concerns about the treatment of the elderly and disabled people in care. Consequently the media e.g. news on television, newspapers and radio etc went on to cover the story and all court proceedings, and so the investigation drew the attention of many more people concerned with the matter.
It became apparent that the Care Quality Commission had failed to recognise the behaviour of staff within Winterbourne View and because of this could not of acted sooner. The footage displays no proper use of guidelines for challenging