CQC acts to protect the safety and welfare of people at Bamford Grange Care Home, Stockport

23 May 2013

In a report published today, CQC inspectors identify a number of concerns found at Bamford Grange Care Home, which provides accommodation and nursing care for up to 79 people many of whom have enduring mental health needs or dementia related conditions.

On inspection in March 2013 CQC found that the provider, Four Seasons (No10) Limited, was failing to meet six of the seven national standards assessed. Visiting inspectors and identified that improvements were needed in relation care and welfare, meeting nutritional needs, staffing, complaints handling, record keeping and assessing the quality of service provision. By law, providers of care services must ensure that they are meeting all standards.

Inspectors reviewed a sample of personal care and treatment records for individuals living at the home, observed how people were being cared for and spoke with staff, residents and their relatives or carers. As a result they found that people living at the home did not always receive care or support that was appropriate to their needs.

Where assessments of care and risk had identified changing care needs, these were not always being acted on. Some care records reviewed by inspectors lacked detail or were incomplete, leaving staff with insufficient guidance to ensure the required level of support and treatment could be consistently delivered.

Inspectors observed limited engagement between staff and people living at the home and residents were not given the opportunity to take part in meaningful or enjoyable activities.

CQC had received information regarding low staffing at the home. During their inspection CQC found that there were insufficient numbers of staff on duty to cater for the needs of all residents. For example, there were too few staff on duty to assist residents to get up and dressed in the mornings, and staff told inspectors that they did not have time to ensure that food and fluid records were kept up to date.

The provider did not effectively monitor the quality of service that people living at the home were receiving. Complaints were not being recorded, and where audits had been undertaken to assess the safety and quality of care it was unclear whether action had been taken to address concerns identified.

Four Seasons (No10) Limited has been told that they must provide an action plan setting out how they will comply with the legal standards and CQC will monitor its implementation to make sure the required improvements are made.

Malcolm Bower-Brown, CQC’s director in the North said:

“The failings at Bamford Grange are a real concern and we have told the provider where immediate improvements need to be made.

“We continue to monitor the situation carefully and will not hesitate to take further regulatory action should this prove necessary to ensure the people using the service receive the service they are entitled to expect"

Any regulatory decision that CQC takes is open to challenge by a registered person through a variety of internal and external appeal processes.

Ends

For further information please contact the CQC Regional Communications Team, David Fryer 07901 514 220 or Kirstin Hannaford 0191 233 3629.

The CQC press office can be contacted on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.

Notes to editors

You can read the full report at the Bamford Grange Care Home page.