ITV News uncovered allegations of physical assault, sexual abuse, drug-taking and neglect at Blue Ribbon Care Home services across the North West of England. The claims involve adults with learning disabilities and multiple care settings run by Blue Ribbon Healthcare Group.
Over the course of the investigation, eight people who had worked for Blue Ribbon and families of several residents spoke to ITV News. One family said their loved one, who had profound learning disabilities, lived in a Blue Ribbon home for more than two years and was later found naked outside with sores on his feet in a pool of his own urine, faeces and vomit.
Daniel Hewitt leads ITV News
Daniel Hewitt led the investigation for ITV News, with Lili Donlon-Mansbridge also involved. The reporting said the allegations stretched across care homes and supported living facilities, showing the issues were not limited to one site.
At one Blue Ribbon residential home, several staff members were suspended after they allegedly “bench-pressed” a resident with learning disabilities and threw him across the room. Police were called after that assault allegation.
Blue Ribbon residential and supported living
At another supported living service, two staff were investigated for allegedly sexually abusing a vulnerable resident after they encouraged them to touch their breasts and buttocks. Separate whistleblowers told ITV News that carers were found sleeping while on shift, ignoring residents and at times leaving them unattended.
One carer was also found to be regularly taking cocaine while on shift. The investigation linked those claims to services for adults with learning disabilities, autism and other mental health conditions, which Blue Ribbon Healthcare Group runs alongside Forevermore Care and Cade Care.
Blue Ribbon response to ITV News
When approached by ITV News, Blue Ribbon said: “Many do not reflect the information available to us or are presented without important clinical, regulatory or factual context.” It added: “Other concerns relate to historic incidents that were thoroughly investigated at the time”.
An internal email seen by ITV News showed the company’s chief executive describing one residential home as “revolting” and warning it was at risk of “significant enforcement action” if inspected. For residents and families, the immediate question is how care is being monitored now across these services and whether the disputed incidents have already led to any formal outcome.
