CQC demands action to improve services at Orchid View care home

14 October 2011

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors who visited Orchid View Care Home in Copthorne near Crawley found that it was failing to meet eight essential standards of quality and safety.

Orchid View, run by Southern Cross (Copthorne) OPCO Limited, has been open as a care home with nursing since 2009, and provides accommodation, care and nursing for people who may be elderly or who have nursing or dementia care needs.

Inspectors carried out a further visit in September 2011 and found that the care provided was falling far short of the essential standards of quality and safety people should be able to expect.

CQC inspectors told the provider they judged people using the service to be at risk and would take urgent action to protect them as a result. In response, the provider agreed to voluntarily cancel its registration (CQC registration is the legal licence for all health and social care providers to operate).

CQC has also been working with stakeholders including West Sussex County Council Adults’ Services, Sussex Police, Sussex Community NHS Trust, NHS Sussex to undertake a safeguarding investigation.

The CQC report, which is published today, found that Orchid View was not meeting eight essential standards, and had major concerns in the areas below.

Respecting people

People did not always receive care which supported their dignity (being left with soiled hands in one example), and incidents where a lack of respect was shown for the person's wishes or views.

Care and welfare

The care and support provided was inconsistent and left people at risk of serious neglect. Care and support with pain relief, continence care, and treatment of pressure areas were not robustly managed.

Nutrition

People did not always receive the support they needed to eat and drink sufficient amounts.

Safeguarding

Clear arrangements were not in place to protect residents from the risks of choking. Inspectors were also concerned that there were not enough staff present for Orchid View to be able to respond quickly enough if there was an incident of the person choking during meal times or when drinks were being served.

Management of medicines

People were not protected against the risks associated with the unsafe use and management of medication. Orchid View failed to make appropriate arrangements for ordering, administering and recording medicines.

Staffing

There were not enough staff on duty and people did not always receive the assistance they needed or were not helped in a timely manner. There were not enough staff to ensure people received assistance while eating and drinking during lunchtime.

Supporting workers

Training records indicated that regular training is being provided for staff, and that arrangements for staff supervision were now in place. However staff supervision records we sampled indicated that some staff had received little if any supervision support during the previous two years. Staff were not supported by consistent management of the service.

Monitoring the service

Monitoring arrangements in the home failed to ensure that risks and harm to people living at Orchid View have been addressed. Although the provider has made resources available to try to improve the quality of care at Orchid View, there has not been a significant improvement in the care people are receiving in the home.

Roxy Boyce, Regional Director of CQC in the South East, said: “The people living at Orchid View are frail, vulnerable adults and it was unacceptable for them be put at risk by those caring for them. CQC has been working closely with other stakeholders to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the residents. Orchid View is now closed and we are pleased that everyone has moved to alternative care accommodation of their choice.

Ends

For further information please contact the CQC press office on 0207 448 9239 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.

Notes to editors