The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has placed Northgate House in Hellesdon, Norwich into special measures following an inspection in June.
During the unannounced inspection, CQC found the provider was failing to provide care which was safe, effective, caring, well-led and responsive to people’s needs.
Under CQC’s programme of inspections, all adult social care services are being given a rating to help people choose care. Overall, Northgate House has been rated as Inadequate.
Northgate House is a residential home providing accommodation and care for up to 22 older people.
A full report from the inspection has been published on the CQC website: www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-118059674.
At this inspection the provider was in breach of eight regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Each of the areas that were found to be in breach during our July 2014 inspection were still in breach under the equivalent new regulations.
CQC found that the quality of the care records was poor. There were inconsistencies and they lacked detail about the health conditions people were living with and how staff needed to support them. There was little to occupy people’s time in the home.
The service was poorly managed. There was very little monitoring of the quality of the service provided taking place. There was no satisfactory complaints system in place and where people’s views had been sought, they had not been acted upon.
Risks to people’s wellbeing were not routinely identified, reviewed and managed to ensure that people were kept as safe as possible. People were not protected from risks associated relating to the premises or poor hygiene practices.
In addition, medicines were not managed appropriately and staffing levels were not always able to meet people’s needs in a timely manner.
Sue Howard, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care said:
“It is essential that Northgate House takes action to address the concerns we identified at this inspection. The provider has a responsibility to ensure that people living at the home are safe and protected from the risk of harm. All people living there have a right to receive care which is of a high quality, compassionate and safe.
"When we are faced with a residential or nursing home failing their residents, our first instinct is to make sure the service improves. “Since the inspection we have been working closely with the local authority to ensure that residents are not at risk. We have placed this service in special measures and are taking further action in relation to this provider. We will report on this action when it is completed.”
Ends
For media enquiries, contact Helen Gildersleeve, Regional Engagement Officer, on 0191 233 3379 or contact the press office on 020 7448 9401 during office hours. Journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here. (Please note: the duty press officer is unable to advise members of the public on health or social care matters).
For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.
Find out more
Read reports from our checks on the standards at Northgate House (Norwich).