A controversial centre for autism and other conditions closed after an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The Breightmet Centre for Autism closed after a team of two inspectors came to its site on Milnthorpe Road on March 22.

The controversial centre run by ASC Healthcare was in special measures after two inspections last year rated it as inadequate. The CQC started the process of cancelling its registration already.

READ MORE: Bolton Supported Living 'requires improvement' says CQC.

It accelerated the process of cancelling its registration when the two inspectors discovered a catalogue of issues including an alleged assault on a patient by a worker while eight others watched.

Other issues included the use of restraint with one patient restrained 38 times in a period of 18 days and one patient restrained for throwing a cereal bowl in the air.

There were enough workers, but these were not of the appropriate skill or the appropriate training, and some of them were observed to be asleep on shift on CCTV.

READ MORE: Bolton maternity service 'requires improvement' says CQC.

The CQC ordered The Breightmet Centre for Autism to send all of its residents to alternative placements by April 14 and to stop admissions, an order with which it has complied. It has closed, the watchdog said, and ASC Healthcare applied to Companies House to be struck off the Companies Register on June 6.

A report this week reads: "This service was placed in special measures following the first inadequate rating. 

"Following the second inadequate rating we commenced action in line with our enforcement procedures to begin the process of preventing the provider from operating the service. This will lead to cancelling their registration within six months of the notice.

"This inspection was carried out to check the safety of people using the service and, as a result, we took action in line with our enforcement procedures to impose conditions on the provider's registration to ensure people's safety, including ensuring all people using the service were transferred to alternative placements by April 14, and to not make any admissions.

"The provider has complied with these conditions and the hospital has closed."

The Bolton News approached ASC Healthcare for comment on the inspection on March 22.

The Bolton News approached GMP for information on the investigation into alleged assault.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.