THE dreadful situation regarding the closure of Shapland Close and the way in which Scope is treating the people concerned, all South Wilts Mencap members, is totally devoid of charity, conscience and humanity.
It would appear that Scope, despite priding themselves on the excellence of their care services, are walking out on vulnerable people because a sufficiently capable manager cannot be found. Other homes in the area work well, why not Shapland Close? Scope did not even have the common decency to give an adequate explanation and reasonable notice to the occupants and their parents.
The whole situation makes us extremely angry; we are perplexed as to why a charity of Scope’s size and clout has so significantly failed these vulnerable people. South Wilts Mencap has written to Scope asking them to actively contribute towards a long term solution that is acceptable to the parents; Scope is supposed to be a charity after all.
We understand that Wiltshire County Council are doing their best to find suitable alternative accommodation for these vulnerable people.
People with such profound difficulties will find it extremely difficult to resettle and need to be treated with great care and consideration; the needs of their elderly parents must be recognised too. Let’s hope that the matter will be dealt with sensitively and turbulence kept to the minimum.
NIGEL AFFORD Chair, South Wilts Mencap
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