Winterbourne View parent company goes into administration

Tuesday 05 March 2013

Castlebeck, the company which ran Winterbourne view assessment and treatment centre which closed in 2011 after horrific abuse was uncovered, has gone into administration

Castlebeck still runs around 20 other independent hospital assessment, treatment / rehabilitation and residential care units for people with a learning disability in the midlands, the north east and Scotland, with a combined occupancy of over 200 patients and residents.

Mencap and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation have been campaigning for the closure of these kinds of institutions and in December 2012 the Department of Health published the 'Transforming care’ report.  This commits the government to a programme of action to reduce the number of people with a learning disability who are being sent away to assessment and treatment units like Winterbourne View, and return as many people as possible to their communities.

Yesterday, 5 March 2013, Castlebeck announced that it has appointed Administrators following the closure of Winterbourne and two other centres, which have “significantly diluted” the company’s trading capabilities. On its website Castlebeck says:

“A number of prospective purchasers have already shown interest in acquiring the individual Castlebeck operating units, which will continue to operate and trade normally whilst such sales are progressed, and new owners for the operating units emerge.”

Simon Parkinson, operations director for education, learning and work at Mencap said of the announcement by Castlebeck:

"The crucial thing now is that the vulnerable people Castlebeck are responsible for are appropriately supported.

“The government’s position is clear that people with a learning disability should not be living in places like Winterbourne View.

“Proper plans need to be drawn up to ensure people with a learning disability are able to get the high quality support and services they need in their local communities close to family and friends." 

Read Mencap’s article on the government’s final report on Winterbourne View.