WA disabled care homes to shut, funds axed

A disability care service in Perth is being shut down because an employee who worked one seven-hour shift lodged complaints, according to the owners and founders.

Sunflower Care Services received $1.6 million in 2015-16 but is being forced to close its doors at the end of this month because of the complaints to the Disability Services Commission.

Parents of clients say they have not been told the substance of the allegations and defended the service.

A DSC spokeswoman said decisive action was taken whenever there were serious concerns about an organisation, but could not provide details about the allegations as it was now a legal matter.

However, Sunflower Care Services owners and founders Katherine and Joseph Karunarathna said they were not aware of any legal proceedings.

"Sunflower rejects the complaints made by this individual and are extremely disappointed that, in conducting their investigation, the DCS investigator neglected to interview the individual's four co-workers from that shift or Sunflower management," Ms Karunarathna said.

Robert Chennell says his son Craig had responded wonderfully to care at one of Sunflower's six properties after becoming depressed and violent at his previous residential arrangement.

"He's just a totally different guy. He's now my son again," Mr Chennell said.

"He's never been better. Instead of being an angry person ... and being violent, he's friendly and he rings me up and asks me how my day is.

"It's fantastic to have him back.

"The carers and the staff there are so open and relaxed, it makes Craig open and relaxed. It's the first place where he feels at home."

Lucea Drane says caring for her daughter Klyrisa is so exhausting that without Sunflower's respite services, she fears she'll have a mental breakdown.

"I'm a sole parent, she's epileptic and has a lot of needs, my back is starting to go, so I rely on Sunflower," Ms Drane said.

"It's very difficult to look after her on my own.

"She's happy - she's got her best friends there and we just don't want to go anywhere else.

"We shouldn't have to."