HEALTH bosses are being urged to set up a task force to help potentially dangerous residents at a York care home.

And the home - The Cusicks, in Wentworth Road - is being asked to revise a whole series of policies concerning the admission, risk assessment and care of its mentally handicapped residents.

An independent review team was asked last year to investigate the type of placements being accepted by the home and the support provided by local agencies.

The review came in the wake of revelations that a resident known as Tom had been living in the home's secure annexe for a year because no psychiatric hospital would take him in.

Mrs Cusick revealed that Tom had attempted to rape her and claimed he would almost certainly attempt to harm someone else if she released him into the community.

A hospital place was eventually found for him.

The review team has finally completed its report, and the 28-page document reveals that three residents are potentially violent, two pose an arson risk, two are likely to abscond and one has been diagnosed as psychotic. Three were in prison prior to coming to The Cusicks, and one was in a special hospital.

"Several have a history of exhibiting behaviours which pose a serious risk to themselves, family members, care staff or the public at large."

The report says there is a lack of knowledge amongst professionals about how best to devise appropriate care packages for people with such complex needs, but the home felt it would like to work more closely with professionals.

The report says relatives of residents at the home were very complimentary about the care provided and the stability which had brought to the lives of their son or daughter.

It also notes the high level of personal commitment by the couple. "In our view, there is evidence that this has been of positive benefit to several people who, for the first time in their lives, have found a stable home and/or remained free of contact with the criminal justice system."

But it says personal commitment is not sufficient to ensure a service operates effectively and there are a number of shortfalls in the home's operation and its relationships with external agencies.

It says such relationships should be strong and there should be shared decision-making, and a continual, critical review of the care provided to individuals.

Rose Cusick said today she accepted some, but not all, of the criticisms, and said she had been pressing for greater involvement from health care professionals for years.

A health authority spokesman said it would support and encourage any partnership which would work to improve services.