Care homes for the elderly in the borough have had a total of 110 safeguarding alerts in a year, on issues including sexual and physical assaults on residents.  

Richmond Council said it upheld 25 abuse complaints in 2011-12 after carrying out investigations.

The authority responded to 45 concerns of neglect between 2009 and 2012.

There were fewer than five alerts raised concerning sexual assaults in each of the three years, according to freedom of information figures.

Richmond has a total of 20 care homes that look after residents with illnesses including dementia and physical disabilities. A variety of private and charity organisations run them independently of the authority and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) carries out regular inspections.

A spokeswoman for Richmond Council said: “In 2011-12 there were 110 alerts for care homes. Of those alerts 88 went on to a safeguarding referral and were investigated further through the multi-agency arrangements.

“Following an assessment and investigation only 25 were substantiated; the majority were for neglect and physical abuse. Each of these has a wide ranging scale of severity.

“Depending on the nature of each incident, appropriate action was then taken. For example the police are involved where necessary and appropriate issues may be pursued through a criminal route; alternatively if an individual carer was involved the organisation responsible for running the care home would have carried out the necessary disciplinary procedure.

“Should the situation be significantly severe, the council or employing agency would refer the individual to the Independent Safeguarding Authority, for them to consider the appropriate action.

“Should the situation raise concerns about the management and practice within the care home, the council will undertake a large scale investigation.”

The council said alerts arose from concerns over different kinds of abuse, including sexual, financial, physical and psychological.

Volunteers from Age UK go to each care home to assess the quality of the service they provide and the residents’ experience of living there and the authority carried out 30 quality assurance visits in 2011-12. 

The council spokeswoman said it encouraged elderly people and their families to report any concerns.

She added: “Richmond Council takes the safety and wellbeing of all residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable very seriously and has robust procedures in place to ensure that they are safeguarded but, should an incident occur, each report is fully investigated.”