FORMER carers at a nursing home have been summoned to appear at court accused of mistreating a resident.

Blessing Okeke-Nwojeh and Hemlata Ramdin will face a charge of ill-treating or wilfully neglecting a person without capacity at Ghyll Grove Care Home, Ghyllgrove, Basildon.

The charges come after the Echo revealed nine people had been suspended from the care home in February this year following allegations of abuse.

Police were called to the care home and an investigation came after a family member of one of the residents was concerned with CCTV footage obtained from a private security camera.

HC-One, the operator of the care home, said they took immediate action as soon as the allegations came to light.

The incident took place in Kennett House – one of the four wards at Ghyll Grove and the firm strongly stated at the time that all alleged issues related to that ward only.

Nine members of staff were suspended as part of the company’s internal investigation in February.

A spokesman for the company said the nine members of staff who were suspended no longer work for HC-One.

They added: “The health, safety and wellbeing of our residents are our highest priorities, and we have a zero-tolerance approach to any behaviour which goes against our ethos of kindness.

“Since January, we have worked with the police to support their investigation. Senior leaders from across our organisation have also been supporting the home to improve all aspects of the care and support we provide.

“We are confident the residents and their loved ones will have seen a transformational journey over the past seven months, and we are determined to continue and sustain the improvements made. We are an organisation that passionately believes in providing kind and compassionate care – anything less is unacceptable.

Okeke-Nwojeh, 42, of Clayburn Circle, Basildon and Ramdin, 37, of Braybrook, Basildon are due to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday August 14.