A SENIOR social worker has told a jury she would have challenged a care home's regime to strip wash a doubly incontinent elderly resident every three days.

Aarti Wadhwani was giving evidence in the trial of the manager - Addingham man Stephen Pelkowski - and seven staff members at Highdell Nursing Home in Idle, Bradford, who are accused of deliberately neglecting a 79-year-old dementia sufferer.

Stephen Wood, for the Crown, alleges that Edward Hinnells was left in abject squalor and filth in a room not fit for human habitation.

The jury has heard that Mr Hinnells, who moved into the care home in February 2013, could be abusive and difficult and had a particular aversion to being washed.

Miss Wadhwani, a social work team manager with Bradford Council, carried out a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) assessment of him in May 2013.

She told the court Mr Hinnells, known to staff as Eddie, was "extremely difficult" to engage with, refusing to see her on one of her three visits and throwing things at her.

"He asked me to leave in very colourful language," Miss Wadhwani said. "He was challenging. It was particularly complex and difficult because he was difficult to engage with."

He was often confused, not knowing he was in a nursing home and claiming he was locked in.

"My conclusion was that he lacked capacity to make an informed decision on his care and a DOLS was needed," Miss Wadhwani told the jury.

The court heard it was decided it was best for Mr Hinnells to stay in his room, where he was allowed to smoke.

He had burned his fingers in the past and could be closely monitored in his bedroom.

Also, his challenging behaviour caused difficulty with other residents.

Under the DOLS, Mr Hinnells could be legally restrained to take care of his personal needs.

Mr Wood asked Miss Wadhwani: "However a person presents, however challenging, should that person ever simply be left?"

She answered: "No."

Miss Wadhwani said Mr Hinnells was clean and looked well on her first visit. On her second, he smelled of urine, but not strongly.

Questioned about the home's care plan for the pensioner, she told the court she would have challenged the "strip wash every three days" direction.

She felt it should be done on a daily basis to preserve Mr Hinnells' health and dignity.

Pelkowski, 51, the manager of Highdell, of Lodge Hill, Addingham; Jennifer Cross, 60, a senior care assistant, of The Green, Idle; Phillippa Robinson, 57, a senior nurse and registered mental health nurse, of Hall Royd, Shipley; Nicki Kassama, 30, a carer, of Wrose Mount, Wrose, Shipley; Valerie James, 58, a senior carer, of Stonegate Road, Eccleshill, Bradford; Desmond Crowley, 59, a staff nurse and registered mental health nurse, of Hazelhurst Brow, Daisy Hill, Bradford; Gerard McDermott, 58, a registered mental health nurse, of Maria Street, Ilkley; and Piotr Czajkowski, 49, a cleaner, of Ravenscliffe Avenue, Ravenscliffe, Bradford, all deny one count of wilful neglect of a person who lacks capacity.

The trial continues.