Danshell Adult Healthcare, part of the Danshell Group, has acquired 20 adult health and social care services from Castlebeck following the transfer of registrations with the national care regulators.
Castlebeck has been in administration since March. Danshell’s acquisition of the 20 services in Scotland and the northeast of England ensures that service users, their families and the staff teams at these services can look forward to the future with renewed confidence.
The deal was worth £35 million, according to a report in the Estates Gazette.
Darlington-based Castlebeck went into administration with reported debts of £448 million. The company made national headlines in 2011 when abuse at Winterbourne View, one of the learning disability hospitals it operated, was exposed on the BBC current affairs programme Panorama. Following a police investigation, 11 former carers at Winterbourne View were convicted of 38 counts of abuse, with 6 receiving custodial sentences.
Winterbourne View was closed in the wake of the scandal and all of the residents were found alternative accommodation.
Danshell Adult Healthcare specialises in supporting people living with learning disabilities and complex needs, autism and brain injury. The primary aim of its hospitals and residential services is to deliver effective and outcome-focused care, treatment and support within safe environments.
Danshell’s CEO, Efi Hershkovitz, said; “I am delighted to confirm that, following a rigorous transfer of registration process with the care regulators, these 20 dedicated services are now formally part of the Danshell family.
“We will continue to liaise closely with service users, families and staff teams as we embark on this exciting new stage in our journey together. The last few months have been an uncertain time for everybody at these services. This good news means they can now look to the future with confidence.
“With the range of resources Danshell is able to provide across the country, we are in a fantastic position to help service users live the lives that they want and achieve the goals they set for themselves.”
