Care Home fined over £100,000 for ‘Serious’ fire safety failings

A Care Home has been fined over £100,000, the Care Home based in South London has been fined £90,000 plus more than £15,000 in costs after it was found guilty of breaching fire safety regulations, following the death of an elderly woman.

Back in 2015, a fire broke out in one of the rooms at Wood House Care Home based in Tooting, London, killing a 78-year-old pensioner through severe burning. 

The care home was closed shortly after the fire.

After the fire, the London Fire Brigade investigated the venue and found a series of serious Fire Safety concerns. The fire risk assessments carried out by the home were the main concern and it was found to not adequately reflect the premises or the ‘no smoking’ policy, and not considering the specific risk of individuals within the property.

London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, Dan Daly said, “The fire risk assessment did not adequately reflect the fact that some residents were at serious risk in the event of a fire.

“There were serious breaches of fire safety and measures to safeguard the wellbeing of residents within the property. These issues could have been put in place easily and quickly and at very little cost.

“Carers need to look at the individual needs of the people they look after and incorporate fire risks into the care planning process.

“A person-centred fire risk assessment is essential. If this had been put in place then this tragic case could have avoided.”

The company who owned the care home, Gold Care Consultancy Ltd, were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court.

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Original Source

London Fire Brigade

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