A CARE home has been put into special measures after a rapid decline in services, with staff failing to keep residents safe.

While Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors had rated Briarwood Care Home, in Eston, as good last May, when they revisited in January following a complaint they found a catalogue of problems.

Parts of the home were dirty and there was food debris on floors, while controlled drugs had not been disposed of correctly, medicines were not managed properly, and there was not enough trained staff to keep people safe.

Members of staff were also seen failing to engage with residents, with one person not speaking to anyone during a 15 minute period while they were standing over breakfast and other not talking to a person as they led them to the toilet. 

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Residents appeared unkempt, while personal care records showed one resident had only had one shower in a 17-day period.

The home in Normanby Road, which is run by Hill Care, is now rated inadequate and has been told to make urgent improvements.

The CQC visit was prompted by concerns received about the safe care and treatment of people.

At the time of the visit there were 23 people living at the home, which can cater for up to 49 older people and people living with a dementia.

Following publication of the report, a spokesperson for Briarwood Care Home said: “We are deeply disappointed with our latest CQC inspection report and took immediate action to rectify the issues raised by inspectors during their visit.

The Northern Echo:

“We have also submitted an action plan to the CQC covering the steps taken to ensure the quality of service our residents, their loved ones, and we expect.

“Our highest priority is providing a safe, comfortable, and caring environment for those who reside with us.”

During the visit, inspectors said staff did not always have access to personal protective equipment (PPE).

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Records of whether staff had been vaccinated for Covid – a requirement since last November – were not accurate and up to date, while the home was also found to not have systems in place to prevent and control the spread of infections.

The home was visibly dirty in places, with food debris on the floor and trailing electrical wires.

Staff were reported to not help residents with aids and appropriate footwear, with people spotted walking around the home in bare feet, with others did not have their dentures or spectacles.

Record keeping was also poor, with care records not complete and the home unable to locate information requested by the CQC about the running of the service.

Staff were working extensive hours, and were poorly supervised and supported. 

The CQC said: “The overall rating for this service is 'Inadequate' and the service is therefore in 'special measures'.

“This means we will keep the service under review and, if we do not propose to cancel the provider's registration, we will re-inspect within 6 months to check for significant improvements.

“If the provider has not made enough improvement within this timeframe, and there is still a rating of inadequate for any key question or overall rating, we will take action in line with our enforcement procedures.

“This will mean we will begin the process of preventing the provider from operating this service.”

What the CQC said about Briarwood Care Home: 

  • Record keeping was poor
  • Systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service were ineffective
  • Risks to people were not always recognised and mitigated
  • Medicines were not managed safely.
  • There were not enough staff on duty to ensure people's care and support needs were being met.
  • Appropriate checks were not always conducted prior to agency staff working at the service.
  • Safeguarding and accident and incident records were inaccurate and incomplete, which impacted on the provider's ability to analyse information and to learn when things went wrong.
  • Effective infection prevention and control measures were not always in place.
  • Areas of the home and equipment were visibly dirty.
  • People were not always treated with dignity and respect.
  • Staff did promote people's dignity, independence and self-esteem.
  • People were restricted from accessing toilets and bathrooms independently.
  • Reviews of people's care and support needs were not always effective.
  • People's nutritional and hydration needs were not appropriately managed.
  • People did not receive care and support from suitably skilled and experienced staff. Training and support for staff was not well managed.

 

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