Care home closed after woman dies

Sean Adelphie said he arrived at the home to find residents in tears

Elderly residents at a West Sussex care home were in tears as they were given one hour's notice to leave after a court order closed it down.

Social services, nurses and police escorted eight residents, one aged 103, out of Trevine Court, Worthing.

Sussex Police said it was investigating the sudden death of a woman resident from the home in hospital on Tuesday.

The home's owner, Sean Adelphie, said the way the closure was handled was an "absolute outrage".

Abuse denial

He said: "My residents were hounded out of the home with barely an hour's notice.

"Some of them had been here for many, many years.

"I was out for the day and I arrived back late in the evening to find the residents and their relatives, and my staff, in tears."

Mr Adelphie said the 103-year-old woman had lived at the home for 18 years and told him: "Mr A, I hope I don't wake up tomorrow morning."

He said he was told the home was being closed because of allegations of abuse, which he categorically denied.

'Immediate danger'

A police spokesman said officers went to Trevine Court, in Southey Road, on Tuesday following the death of a resident.

West Sussex County Council said the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), the regulatory body for care standards in residential homes, applied to Worthing magistrates for Trevine Court's registration to be suspended on Thursday.

"If it is judged that residents are in immediate danger of suffering harm CSCI can require care homes to close immediately, as in this instance," it said.

"This is a decision that is not taken lightly and was made in the best interests of the residents.

"Eight residents have now moved to other accommodation."