A former care home manager in County Durham has been struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) after a panel found he had failed to keep residents safe and showed a 'cavalier' attitude. Keith Garside, who managed Bowburn Care Centre, failed to obtain Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks for two members of staff and did not adequately prepare new nurses for their roles.
The NMC panel, which met in London in Garside's absence, concluded that his misconduct was a serious departure from professional standards. It noted that by failing to obtain CRB checks, he put all residents at risk of harm. The panel also criticised his failure to comply with a previous conditions of practice order, including not providing a reflective piece on his shortcomings.
The panel determined that Garside's fitness to practise remained impaired, as there was no evidence he had remedied his failings. It stated that the risk to the public had escalated due to his lack of remediation and total lack of engagement with the NMC. The panel concluded he may pose a significant risk of repeating his behaviour, which had placed residents at risk.
A spokesperson for St Philips Care, which owns Bowburn Care Centre, confirmed that Garside was no longer employed by the firm, having left in late 2011. The spokesperson added that the company is committed to providing high standards of care and that a subsequent Care Quality Commission inspection in March found all standards were being met.
