"Unsafe" care home placed in special measures

A NURSING home has been placed in special measures by inspectors who warned it was unsafe for residents.
Meadow View Care HomeMeadow View Care Home
Meadow View Care Home

And frequent changes in management had led to “uncertainty” at Meadow View Care Home in Kilnhurst, staff told the Care Quality Commission.

One employee said that new managers would arrive, make changes and leave - adding: “The last one didn’t even stay two weeks.”

The CQC, which brought forward the inspection date because of concerns, found the 48-resident home inadequate.

Its report said: “The service was not safe. Although people told us they felt safe, we found that people were not always safeguarded from the risk of harm. 

“During the inspection, we saw that safeguarding concerns had not been reported appropriately.

“We found there were arrangements in place to ensure people received medicines as prescribed, however the systems were not always followed.”

Relatives said the high use of agency staff had meant a lack of consistency in the care given. And inspectors criticised the use of signs on doors that read: “I am unable to make use of the call system so please check on me regularly through the day and night.”

They said this did not respect the residents’ privacy or dignity, adding that staff should be aware of people’s needs through care plans.

Residents, particularly those nursed in bed, said there was not much to do and a lack of stimulation.

A well-balanced diet was provided but people were not always properly supported to eat and drink, the report said.

A new manager had arrived at the Randerson Drive home two weeks before the inspection. One staff member told the CQC: “It’s like starting from scratch each time.”

Services in special measures are kept under review and inspected again within six months. The report said: “The expectation is that providers found to have been providing inadequate care should have made significant improvements within this timeframe.”

The home is run by Amore Care, part of the Priory Group, which has placed an additional, regional manager at the service three days a week to support the new manager.

A spokesman said: “We take the CQC report seriously and have a robust action plan in place, overseen by senior managers, to ensure all the issues raised are fully and swiftly addressed. 

“A new manager has been recently appointed and we are in the process of recruiting new permanent staff. 

“Staff retraining on medicine management and improving the mealtime experience is under way.

“Additionally, we are improving our communications with the regulator with regards to notifiable incidents. 

“Our absolute priority is to ensure that residents receive the safe and effective care they need and we will look forward to the CQC visiting again in the near future.”

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