The police and the Care Inspectorate have been called in once more to investigate new allegations of “illegal activity” by management at Rosendael Veterans Home.
Army veteran Stephen Briggs says he is taking legal action against management after his private mail was opened and has also raised concerns regarding staff marking a resident down as being present despite him being missing from the home for five days.
In addition, he has complained of drug abuse by residents and “general mismanagement” at the home.
Mr Briggs, 47, says despite the mail in question being a registered letter from Dundee City Council, addressed to him and containing his passport and a document from the Department for Work and Pensions, a female staff member claimed they were entitled to open it.
Scottish Veterans Residences, who own Rosendael, have admitted a staff member had made “a mistake” and described the opening of the letter a “violation” of its own rules. The company has, however, strongly rejected his other claims.
Mr Briggs told The Courier: “I have called in both the police and the Care Inspectorate. These illegal actions have also been sufficient for me to consider my position as to staying at Rosendael and accordingly I have decided to move away and already tendered my notice to quit.”
He added: “I only moved in here in May and I had no idea things like this had happened before. It was only when I told a someone else about my mail being opened that he told me about the issues last year.
“They have no right to do this it’s my private and personal mail and it could have been something really confidential.”
Among his other complaints are that a resident had been missing from his room for five days before staff reported it to police, while a staff member had apparently marked down in a book that he was present.
Mr Briggs added: “I reported him missing on Sunday June 23. The staff delayed or refused to respond to my request to notify the authorities and did not do so until June 25, a full five days after he was last seen at Rosendael.
“It also beggars belief that one of their wardens marked (the resident) as being seen even although he did not return to the premises until June 26.
“Complaints by me have also been made as to the noise, and continual drug-taking by two residents as well as others. This is generally known by both staff and residents and nothing has been done about it.”
The new allegations follow action by the inspectorate last year, which fully upheld one complaint and partially upheld two others.
Following that investigation, the Care Inspectorate ordered SVR to take immediate action to remedy the situation.
SVR chief executive Ian Ballantyne said: “Mr Briggs had given his notice to leave Rosendael well before he made this complaint. Indeed, SVR had secured him alternative accommodation which he rejected.
“His claim that he has terminated tenancy with us on the back of this incident is simply not accurate.
“In terms of his complaint, Mr Briggs had requested that the staff at Rosendael manage the administration of his housing benefit and, as a result, the follow-up correspondence clearly marked as ‘housing benefit’ was addressed to him care of the Rosendael manager.
“However, the fact our staff member opened the letter is a violation of our own strict rules. Contrary to Mr Briggs’s claims, we have thoroughly investigated the matter and our manager Max McLennan wrote to him.
“The staff member responsible has also apologised in person to Mr Briggs and additional disciplinary action will be taken against them.
“On the issues of drug-taking, there are clear policies in place. Police are immediately called if there is any evidence of drug taking at Rosendael and any resident in possession of illegal drugs is immediately evicted.”
A Care Inspectorate spokesperson said: “We are investigating a complaint received in relations to Rosendael and our inquiries are ongoing.”
A police spokesman confirmed they had been contacted regarding the issue.