A CARE home manager who left residents with staff without proper training, in mould covered homes and dog faeces covered gardens has been struck off the register.

Rachel Hooton, who managed two care homes in Wolfscastle – Cartref Haul Y Bryn and 6, Haul Y Brinn – was sanctioned after a two-day Social Care Wales fitness to practise committee meeting Last week (Thursday, October 25 and Friday October 26).

Ms Hooton did not attend the committee, despite attempts to contact her.

An inspection of the homes in May 2016 found numerous issues in both homes, including homes covered in black mould, rubbish left in the garden and residents who needed 24-hour care left on their own.

The chair of the committee said: “Conditions in the homes were poor, staffing levels were insufficient, rotas had not been drawn up, staff training was deficient, and service users did not have access to meaningful activities.

“In our view, these matters arose as a result of the registrant’s neglect of her duties.”

All five charges against Ms Hooton were found proved by the committee, who concluded that her “fitness to practise is impaired by reason of misconduct” meaning her behaviour fell short of what was expected.

“The extent of the neglect, in our judgment, calls into question the registrant’s fitness to remain on the register without conditions,” he added.

The committee decided Ms Hooton was not impaired due to lack of competence because she had passed the fitness test for registration with Care Inspectorate Wales only the year before.

On making the decision on the sanction, the chair said: “We consider it no exaggeration to say that, in our judgment, the registrant breached the trust of the people for whose care she bore ultimate responsibility.

“These were vulnerable individuals who relied upon good quality care to meet their needs and maintain their wellbeing.”