21 March 2012
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told the owner of Chestnut Lodge care home at Ferndown in Dorset that she must take immediate action to improve standards of care.
In a report published recently, CQC inspectors identify a series of concerns found at Chestnut Lodge, a care home for to 30 people at West Moors, Ferndown. CQC has been working closely with Dorset Council and the NHS to ensure people are not at immediate risk of harm.
Inspectors found that the provider, Mrs Jane Travers, was failing to meet nine national standards of quality and safety, covering care and welfare, safeguarding arrangements, cleanliness and infection control, staffing and staff training, and the monitoring of the quality of service provided. By law, providers of care services must ensure that they are meeting all standards.
Mrs Travers has been told that she must provide a report setting out how she will comply with the legal standards.
The report which has now been published on the CQC website gives further details of the concerns which were found during the inspection in November.
Care and welfare of people who use services
People were not protected against the risk of receiving unsafe and inappropriate care because their care and support needs were not being properly assessed. While staff were caring and responded to people's basic needs, opportunities for people to participate in activities were limited.
Safeguarding people who use services from abuse
People were not protected from the risk of abuse or possible harm as not all staff had received relevant training. Inspectors found that staff had limited knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures. Staff did not have access to a safeguarding policy and procedures that was in line with local and national guidance.
Cleanliness and infection control
People were not being protected from identifiable risks of acquiring an infection because there were not effective systems to maintain appropriate standards of cleanliness and hygiene. The registered provider did not adhere to national policy requirements identified in the Department of Health Code of Practice.
Staffing
People were being cared for by some staff that had not had relevant recruitment checks prior to their employment commencing at Chestnut Lodge. There were not enough staff to provide care that was safe and effective to meet the needs of the people living at Chestnut Lodge.
Supporting staff
People received care that was delivered by staff that are not properly supported to provide appropriate care and treatment. The arrangements for staff training, supervision and appraisal were inconsistent and staff competence was not monitored effectively.
Assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision
The provider did not have effective systems to monitor the quality of care or the service provided.
Ian Biggs, deputy director of CQC in the South, said:
"Our inspectors have found a range of problems which must be addressed. The law says that these are the standards that everyone should be able to expect. Providers have a duty to ensure they are compliant.
"We were told that the two carers on duty during the day were also responsible for providing care and support; preparing, cooking and serving meals; laundering for the people; cleaning the home and undertaking the administrative duties of the home. Clearly there were not sufficient resources dedicated to keeping the environment clean and fit for purpose.
“Mrs Travers has been required to provide us with assurance that she is going to address these issues. We will continue to monitor this service to ensure this happens.
“Our inspectors will inspect again in the near future and if we find that the home is not making progress we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers on behalf of the people who live there.”
Ends
For further information please contact the CQC press office on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.
Read the reports
Read the reports from our checks on standards at Chestnut Lodge.