Public address on Connaught ‘fiasco’ draws large crowd at Alderney court

Friday 15 March 2024

The reshuffle of the Connaught Board of Directors “couldn’t have been handled worse” according to a former member of the Board, while those responsible for developing Alderney’s new model of healthcare maintain that it is being done to “vastly improve the quality of residential care”.

This week’s [13 March] States meeting drew a large crowd as Barbara Benfield – a former Connaught board member – took the opportunity to address the island’s politicians via Chief Pleas.

It comes amidst continued discourse triggered by a major reshuffle of the care home’s board of directors.

“I am here today to address you on some very important issues that relate to the wellbeing of Alderney,” began Ms Benfield.

“I will start by stating that in all of the years I have lived in Alderney I have never felt the need to address the States at a Chief Pleas. However, I am hoping that the result will be at least one of you will listen and take on board some of the points and questions raised.”

She claimed that she had been lied to throughout the process of appointing the new board members.

Specifically, she referred to a past meeting where several members were informed that they would not be invited to stay on the board.

“We were also told that P&F [Policy and Finance] had been informed by the Head of the Alderney Care Board that the Connaught Board were not supportive of the Integrated Care Plan that has been adopted by P&F, regardless of the fact that the Head of the Alderney Care Board had been invited to join the Board as a non-voting member and has had full access and participation with the Connaught Board... since early summer 2023.

“The States have stated publicly that the agenda for the AGM prepared in December could not be agreed upon, however an entirely different agenda was produced a week prior to the AGM via the States representative to the company secretary without awareness of any of the Board.

“This was subsequently challenged and the result was that the AGM was postponed – subsequently, the Board were not given proper notice of the AGM and were not able to attend and challenge the reasoning behind the changes as the AGM did not take place.”

Pictured: Ms Benfield's concerns were raised during an Alderney States meeting.

Ms Benfield continued to raise concerns about a document she said she hadn’t signed, and the ongoing debate about whether the Connaught’s charitable status is threatened by the Board being comprised of at least two people who are paid States’ employees.

In summing up, Ms Benfield put several questions to the States of Alderney:

What efforts have you made to increase the Board with independent directors, or are we to assume you are not going to?

How much has it cost in Law Officers time to tell you what any of us could, and tried, to tell you?

Are you aware of the cost implications should the Connaught lose its charitable status?

When will you feel ready to enlighten the people of Alderney on the Integrated Care Plan, will this [include] a full public meeting, as well as a consultation with all stakeholders, including staff of the agencies concerned?

How much will the care plan cost to be implemented?

Express put Ms Benfield’s concerns and questions to the Chair of P&F, Nigel Vooght, who provided the following statement:

“With a demographic like Alderney’s, the Connaught Care Home holds a special place in the hearts of all Islanders. That includes the States which has proved that affection in recent years with significant and ongoing capital and revenue spend on the fabric of the Care Home to vastly improve the quality of residential care on the Island.

“We recognise the input of the previous Connaught Board and their valuable contribution to the operation of the Care Home. It is our wish that the highest possible level of care continues to be provided to serve and protect the Island’s most vulnerable residents efficiently and effectively.

“In January, we made a clear operational decision to appoint a Care Home Board that would share the vision of collaboration across all parts of healthcare in Alderney. It was our wish that the Connaught manager, Liz Bowskill, and Barbara Benfield of Age Concern would continue as Board Members with their valuable expertise and experience, but that, sadly, was not to be. Additional directors can and will be appointed.

“On the matter of the Connaught’s charitable status, the Royal Connaught Residential Home Ltd is a company registered under Alderney Companies Law and its articles clearly state its charitable objectives. This remains the same and has not changed. As far as impartiality is concerned, each director has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the company that they represent.

“We are developing a new operating model for health and care for Alderney where all providers can work together to provide an integrated and efficient service for the island. Further work is ongoing involving all stakeholders and we will seek the views of the public in due course.”