The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today said it is highly concerned about a suspected abuse of service users by a staff member at a residential care home for persons with disabilities, and has taken follow-up action upon notification of the case. 

The residential care home for persons with disabilities and the organisation concerned have been requested to conduct a thorough investigation and submit improvement plans to avoid similar incidents from happening again, and to protect service users’ well-being.

In August, the care home in question submitted special incident reports to the SWD’s relevant licensing office stating that a male staff member was suspected of having abused two service users while on duty.

The care home made a report to Police and terminated that staff member’s employment. The man was arrested by Police and legal proceedings are underway.

The SWD took immediate follow-up action upon the notification, which involved an unannounced inspection at the care home, and a request for the operator to handle the incident seriously, as well as suitably follow up on the emotional and welfare needs of the two victims and their families.

To express deep concern over the incident, the Labour & Welfare Bureau and the SWD met the operator’s Council of Management and managers to get a briefing on the handling of the incident.

The SWD also issued a warning letter to the operator, requiring a detailed investigation report and the implementation of improvement measures to ensure proper care and protection for the service users.

The measures include a manpower review, enhancement of management officers’ supervision on the care home's operation, provision of strengthened guidance and training for frontline staff, and persistent supervision over staff members’ work ethics.

The SWD noted that the operator has formed an independent review committee to look into its measures to protect service users.

Additionally, the SWD hosted a sharing session on October 9 for management officers and staff of all care homes on protecting residents from being abused. It will keep providing relevant training to care home staff.

It has also strengthened the requirement on care homes’ monitoring and review of CCTV to further safeguard the well-being of the service users.