September 6, 2019 4.48 pm This story is over 54 months old

More trouble at Kisimul as staff suspended

An internal investigation has begun
Tigh Coilean. Photo: Kisimul

Kisimul appears to be in hot water once again after suspending two staff at a house in South Hykeham.

The two staff work at Tigh Coilean, which is a six bedroom house located on Thorpe Lane in South Hykeham and run by Kisimul Group Limited.

According to CQC, Tigh Coilean is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for six people who have a learning disability and/or a sensory disability.

The staff in question from Tigh Coilean are now being dealt with in an internal investigation, but Kisimul would not disclose when or why the suspensions happened.

CQC confirmed that a safeguarding investigation is ongoing and it is liaising with the local authority safeguarding team.

A Kisimul Senior Director said: “As a result of an internal disciplinary matter, two members of staff at Tigh Coilean have been suspended. This issue is being handled according to our normal disciplinary procedures.

“The safety and wellbeing of the adults in our care is our absolute priority. We are committed to delivering high quality education, care and support for all the adults we worth with.”

A spokesperson for CQC said: “CQC is aware of an incident at Tigh Coilean in Lincoln and that action has been taken by the provider to protect residents.

“A safeguarding investigation is ongoing. We await the outcome of this. We are liaising with the local authority safeguarding team.”

In Tigh Coilean’s last CQC inspection in August 2017 it was given an overall rating of ‘Good’.

The Lincolnite contacted Lincolnshire County Council for further information, but there was no reply by the time of publication.

This is not the first time Kisimul has found itself in hot water.

Inspectors previously found “serious and widespread failures” at Kisimul’s overnight boarding home in Swinderby, which meant that 55 vulnerable children living there were not protected and safeguarded.

Ofsted produced a scathing report, which was published on July 12, and at the time ruled the home as ‘Inadequate’ at protecting children and for the effectiveness of management.

The report came just days after Lincolnshire Police concluded its own investigation, dubbed Operation Hendon, of safeguarding concerns, stating there would be no criminal charges.

Ofsted initially suspended the registration of the children’s boarding home in Swinderby in November 2018 before lifting the suspension in January 2019.

Kisimul said the two matters are not related.