CQC acts to protect the safety and welfare of people at Highfield House care home, Bedlington

25 April 2013

In a report published this week, CQC inspectors identify a number of concerns found at Highfield House, which provides accommodation and personal care for up to 27 people.

Inspectors found that the provider, Sovereign Care North East Limited, was failing to meet five national standards of quality and safety, covering respect and involvement, nutritional needs, staffing levels, cleanliness and infection control, and records management. By law, providers of care services must ensure that they are meeting all standards.

Sovereign Care North East Limited has been told that they must provide an action plan setting out how they will comply with the legal standards.

The report which has now been published on the CQC website gives full details of the concerns which were found during the inspection in March 2013.

Inspectors found that people living at the home were not being provided with a choice of suitable and nutritious food and drink, and were not always supported by staff to eat sufficient amounts to meet their nutritional needs.

Effective systems were not in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection and there was no evidence of any up to date infection control audits or checks having been carried out.

Inspectors were concerned that there were not enough staff to provide adequate care that fully met the needs of people living at the home. Staff told inspectors that there were not enough people employed to work at the home to fulfil the shifts required, and that that due to limited staff resources they were regularly working over their contracted hours.

Records relating to people’s care were not always up to date and in some cases contained inaccuracies and inconsistent information.

Concerns regarding nutrition, staffing and records management had been raised by CQC inspectors previously following their visit in September 2012. Despite assurances from the provider that improvements would be made, on latest inspection CQC found that standards were still falling short of what people should be able to expect.

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

“The failings at Highfield House are a concern and immediate improvements need to be made.

“CQC has been working closely with the local authority to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people receiving care at Highfield House and we have told the provider where they must improve.

“Where improvements are not made we have a range of enforcement powers that can be used, including prosecution, closure or restriction of services.”

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 press office on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.

Notes to editors

You can read the full report at the Highfield House page.