Birmingham care home abuse claim investigated
Police are reviewing video footage after receiving an allegation of abuse at a care home.
Footage was alleged to have been filmed at Selborne House, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, Selborne Care Ltd said.
West Midlands Police said it was in the early stages of an investigation and was liaising with partner agencies.
Selborne Care said a male worker had left, one person has been suspended pending investigation and another was currently on maternity leave.
A spokesman for the company said a member of staff had been suspended after managers saw the videos, recorded last September.
He said the firm "immediately reported the matter to the police, Birmingham Social Services to initiate the Authority's Safeguarding procedure and the Care Quality Commission".
The spokesman added: ''The company will be undertaking its own investigation into the actions of the staff involved following the Safeguarding procedure, which is normal practice.
"The company will be in a position to answer questions in more detail once the investigations have been completed by all the agencies involved."
He said a male worker left in September last year.
Selborne Care provides care and support for people with learning disabilities and those who may have associated mental health needs.
The city council said it was a private care home and the authority and the CQC "oversee standards when issues are raised" with them at such care homes under safeguarding procedures.
A spokesman for Birmingham social services said: "Our priority as ever is to protect the welfare of vulnerable people in Birmingham and in the case of Selborne Care Home we have worked with the management team to ensure acceptable standards of care are in place.
"Until recently we had not seen the video footage but we do know that the home management has previously disciplined staff and been very proactive in respect to safeguarding issues."
The CQC said it could confirm it "received anonymous information" regarding the care home "which related to serious allegations in September 2012".
A CQC spokesman said: "CQC has been in regular contact with the council regarding its investigation of these matters and has been monitoring the home closely."
The spokesman added it had carried out four unannounced inspections at the home since June last year.
"CQC did not view footage in this case due to the investigation being led by the local authority.
"However, we have recently taken a decision to look at filming of this nature, regardless of whether other authorities might be carrying out any investigation."