AN AUDIT of social care services should be conducted in Winchester following the death of a Hampshire pensioner, a confidential report has recommended.

The Hampshire County Council report, obtained by the Hampshire Chronicle under the Freedom of Information Act, also recommended that senior management staff should sign off decisions to move someone to a new care facility in a bid to stop future incidents arising.

The review was carried out following the death of 84-year-old Gordon Penistan who died after a fall at the Otterbourne Grange residential home, in Otterbourne, in May.

Social care bosses admitted failings in Mr Penistan's care at an inquest into his death, carried out in October.

As previously reported, Winchester Coroner's Court heard how Mr Penistan had been a resident at The White House care home, in Sutton Scotney, near Winchester, and that his social care was being funded by his family, but due to financial issues it was arranged with HCC that Mr Peniston would move to Otterbourne Grange residential home, in Otterbourne.

On the day of Mr Penistan's arrival at Otterbourne Grange he had become agitated due to the move, and during a short period that he was left alone he suffered an unwitnessed fall.

Jacqueline Malee, a safeguarding quality and governance consultant at the HCC, told the inquest that Mr Penistan – who suffered from dementia, as well as a condition which affected his vision, making him more sensitive to changes in his environment – "should have had a 'best interests' meeting" before a decision was made to move him.

Now a review into the way Mr Penistan's case was handled has made a number of recommendations.

It suggested that as well as senior management reviewing cases where a move may be needed due to funding changes, more clarity should be given to the role of the new 'brokerage team' and review of procedures at the council should be carried out.

In addition, the report recommended that guidance for staff should be developed to help them deal with clients moving from self-funded care to council funding and an audit of "operational Mental Capacity Act practice" should be undertaken in the Winchester area.

It is not yet known if the recommendation have been implemented. HCC has been approached for comment.