Care home in Haringey closes after CQC takes action to protect the welfare of people

6 January 2012

A care home in Haringey, north London, has closed after enforcement action by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The providers, Mrs Angelina Espino and Mr Jessie Espino, had been registered to provide accommodation and nursing or personal care for up to three people at 36 Roseberry Gardens.

In unannounced inspections in January and July 2011, inspectors found that the home was failing to meet 11 of the essential standards that people are legally entitled to expect. During the second visit, inspectors witnessed one of the providers loudly reprimanding a person living at the home for assisting them with their inspection.

Inspectors were concerned that people were being left unattended by staff despite their being funded for 24 hour care, and there were concerns over lack of safety precautions around potential fire risks, poor medicines management and poor standards of cleanliness.

On 15 November 2011, CQC served a Notice of Decision under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to remove 36 Roseberry Gardens from the providers' conditions of registration. Mr and Mrs Espino are no longer registered to operate a care home at 36 Roseberry Gardens.

CQC has worked closely with social services at the London Borough of Haringey to ensure the safety and welfare of the two people who were living at the home. The building is now empty. 

Matthew Trainer, Deputy Director of Operations (London) of CQC said:

“We have acted quickly to ensure the welfare of people living at 36 Roseberry Gardens. Taking action which could lead to the closure of a home is something that we never take lightly, but when we find care as poor as we did in this case we have no choice but to take action to protect the safety and welfare of people.

“It is never acceptable for a provider to raise their voice in an aggressive manner to vulnerable people in their care. We have worked closely with Haringey Social Services to ensure the safety and welfare of the people living at the home. Both have now moved to new accommodation which better meets their needs and we are told this has really improved their quality of life.

“This sends a strong public message that we will not hesitate to take tough action if a provider continually fails to meet the standards for care that everyone has the right to expect.”

Ends

For further information please contact the CQC press office on 0207 448 9239 or out of hours on 07917 232143.

Notes to editors

On 15 November 2011, CQC served a Notice of Decision to vary the registration of Mrs Angelina Espino and Mr Jessie Espino under Section 28 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This means that Mrs Angelina Espino and Mr Jessie Espino are no longer registered to carry out the regulated activity ‘Accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care’ at 36 Roseberry Gardens, and therefore they can no longer operate it as a care home.

The providers, Mrs Angelina Espino and Mr Jessie Espino, had the right to make an appeal in writing within 28 days of the date of the notice. They have not chosen to do so in this case. Legal restrictions prevented CQC from reporting this action until the providers had been given the opportunity to register an appeal.