Integrity Care SA director banned from working in disability sector

A director of the company at the centre of the police probe into a shocking neglect scandal has been banned for life from working in the sector.

A director of the care company at the centre of the Annie Smith scandal has been banned for life from working in the disability services industry.

The permanent banning order against Amy June Collins, of Huntfield Heights, follows an ongoing investigation by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission into the tragic death of Ms Smith in April last year.

The move against Ms Collins comes as Major Crime detectives continue probing the three directors of Integrity Care SA – Ms Collins, her partner Philip Greenland and her sister, Alison Maree Virgo – as part of their inquiry into Ms Smith’s death.

Annie Smith. Picture: Supplied

Ms Smith, 54, who had cerebral palsy, died in horrifying and degrading circumstances at her Kensington Park home.

She spent the last months of her life in a sedentary state in a chair in the loungeroom of her home. Rosemary Maione, her carer for several years, was charged with manslaughter in August last year.

Despite the manslaughter charge, detectives are also conducting a coronial investigation and a detailed financial investigation to determine how a sizeable inheritance Ms Smith received from her parents was exhausted and where numerous items of jewellery she purchased are located. The Major Crime investigation is also examining if the actions or conduct of Integrity Care SA’s directors contributed to Ms Smith’s death in any way.

“The NDIS Commission has an active investigation underway into Integrity Care. Further regulatory action may be taken, as additional information comes to light,’’ an NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission spokesman said.

Rosemary Maione leaves the Adelaide Women’s Prison with her son after being released on bail in August. Picture: Brenton Edwards

In May last year, the company was issued with a compliance order and fined $12,600 over its failure to ­notify the commission of Ms Smith’s death within 24 hours. In June last year, the company was advised it would be banned from operating and its registration as a provider was revoked.

The Advertiser in March revealed the Major Crime investigation into Integrity Care SA had been stalled because its lawyers had claimed legal professional privilege over all material seized as part of the investigation.

The move had also prevented any potential new ­evidence in the case against charged carer Rosemary ­Maione from being uncovered and hampered the preparation of the court brief of evidence against her.

Police searching for evidence in the ongoing Annie Smith investigation at Integrity Care's office in Edwardstown. Picture: Tom Huntley

The legal professional privilege claim covers material including client files, employee timesheets, rosters, correspondence and computer hard drives seized from ­Integrity Care’s Edwardstown premises and the Huntfield Heights home of two directors last year.

Detectives last year said that, while some Integrity Care staff had co-operated with the investigation, others were declining to answer “even the simplest of questions’’ and were refusing to co-operate.

While the legal professional privilege claim is still in place, negotiations between police and Integrity Care SA’s lawyers have resulted in an independent third party being engaged to determine what material is entitled to privilege.

Originally published as Integrity Care SA director banned from working in disability sector