Serious case review after death of disabled man without home

Nigel Robert Holman, 45, was found dead at the hotel in January this year, after a cleaner voiced concerns about a “do not disturb” sign which had been hung on his door for four days.

Mr Holman had been homeless for a number of years and had been left disabled by a serious motorcycle accident which left him in constant pain.

At an inquest into his death last week, North Yorkshire Coroner Rob Turnbull recorded a narrative verdict that Mr Holman died of an accidental morphine overdose while waiting for help to be rehoused.

Now the Yorkshire Post has learnt that the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board – which includes lead officers from social care services, police, health, housing, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Care Quality Commission and voluntary agencies – has commenced a serious case review into Mr Holman’s death.

During last week’s inquest, it was said that Mr Holman had been living in a tent around North Deighton, near Wetherby, but the cold weather and his deteriorating health had forced him to turn to the Harrogate Homeless Project for help in mid-December, spending nights at their emergency cold weather shelter.

Project manager Liz Hancock told the inquest that staff felt the accommodation – camp beds in the homeless project’s day centre – was not suitable for his injuries.

Staff contacted council housing officials about Mr Holman, saying his poor state of health made him a priority case for rehousing, but due to it being the New Year bank holidays, no help was found.

Mr Holman was instead put up in a nearby hotel for two nights from December 31 until January 2, in order for council housing officers to be contacted. He was found dead on January 6.

Recording his verdict, Mr Turnbull said: “Far from being in despair, Mr Holman was looking forward to working with the charity to find a change of lifestyle.

“I am quite certain that Mr Holman administered the medication in an attempt to relieve pain.”

A North Yorkshire County Council spokeswoman said yesterday: “North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board has commenced a serious case review on Mr Holman and asked agencies to undertake individual management reviews of their involvement.

“An independent chair has been appointed to co-ordinate the process.

“This is a confidential process and aims to establish what services were offered to Mr Holman and the effectiveness of these services by the agencies involved.

“It will be conducted in the spirit of an enquiry, with a view to identifying the lessons to be learned about the way in which local professionals and agencies work together to safeguard vulnerable adults.”

The Yorkshire Post understands Harrogate Borough Council has already carried out its own internal review and will be submitting a report to the county council’s review panel.

“The council will fully co-operate with the review panel,” a spokeswoman said.

Charities have warned of a hidden problem of homelessness in Harrogate, one of the most affluent towns in the North.

In 2010 figures showed the town had the second highest estimate for homelessness in Yorkshire and Humber (after Bradford) and was in the top 30 nationwide.

Experts say on the ground, little has improved since with a critical lack of affordable accommodation and housing associations having less lets available.

Harrogate Borough Council has warned its housing needs team, which has successfully tackled homelessness acceptances since 2005, is now dealing with around 4,500 enquiries a year and requires an overhaul to cope with the increasing pressures.