Lauriston House, a nursing home in Bickley Park Road, Bromley, has been rated Inadequate overall by the Care Quality Commission and placed in special measures. The home was previously rated as Good overall.
Part of Larchwood Care Homes (South) Limited, the home was rated Inadequate for being safe, effective and well-led. It was rated Requires Improvement for being caring and responsive, following an inspection in November 2018.
The inspection was carried out following concerns raised by health care professionals, the local authority safeguarding team, relatives and staff. These concerns related to poor staffing levels, staff not understanding people's needs in relation to diet and nutrition, weight loss and pressure sores, people’s care needs not being met, and the unsafe management of medicines at the home.
The local authority confirmed that there were eight safeguarding concerns being investigated by its safeguarding team - CQC will monitor the outcome of the investigations and the actions the provider takes to keep people safe.
Inspectors found two people living with pressure sores and others were assessed as being at risk of developing pressure sores, with pressure relieving mattresses not being set correctly. There was no guidance for staff regarding how specific equipment used to keep people safe should be cleaned or maintained.
Insufficient numbers of suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced staff were deployed at the home to meet people's care and support needs and although inspectors observed that staff were kind to people, they did not always know how to support people as they did not know them well. Numerous agency staff were employed.
Staff did not always make referrals to health care professionals when needed and had not always followed the instructions of health care professionals to help maintain people's health.
People and their relatives expressed mixed views about the running of the home. One person said, "The home is not as well organised now as when I first came in here. They have a lot of staff changeovers. Although the manager might do their best, in my opinion it could be better."
James Frewin, CQC’s Head of Inspection for Adult Social Care in London, said: “Lauriston House is now in special measures. It will be kept under review and will be inspected again within six months.
“If not enough improvement is made within this time we will consider further action in line with our enforcement procedures including preventing the provider from operating this service.”
You can read the inspection report in full when it is published on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-1670766044
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