Elderly care home abuse: Woman arrested on suspicion of assault at Essex care home

Police spokesman confirms woman in her 40s has been arrested

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a resident at the care home at the centre of an undercover investigation by BBC Panorama.

The woman, who is in her 40s, was arrested yesterday by police officers investigating allegations of abuse at the Old Deanery Care Home in Braintree, Essex.

She has been released on police bail until later this month pending further enquiries.

The company that runs the home, Anglia Retirement Homes Ltd, this week sacked seven members of staff at the Braintree home after the Panorama film exposed instances of abuse.

One elderly woman with dementia was taunted and slapped by a worker.

A spokesman for Essex police said "The documentary highlighted the treatment of residents inside the Old Deanery Care Home.

"Essex Police were denied an advance viewing of the programme so were only able to begin an investigation following its nationwide broadcast on Wednesday, April 30.

"On Friday evening officers arrested a woman in her 40s at her home in Braintree on suspicion of assaulting a resident at the care home before being released on police bail until later this month pending further inquiries."

An earlier inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited the site during Panorama’s undercover investigation in November and found no problems with the home.

However, it returned after it was informed about the show’s findings and found shortcomings.