CQC requires immediate improvement at a care home in North Yorkshire

14 March 2014

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is taking action to protect the safety and welfare of people living at The Holt Retirement Home in Hutton Buscel, North Yorkshire.

In a report published today, CQC inspectors identify the findings from an unannounced inspection of the home which took place in January 2014 following concerns received from the local authority.

Visiting inspectors reviewed a sample of care records, observed how people were being cared for, and also spoke to residents living in the home, their relatives, and members of staff.

Inspectors found serious shortfalls against all eight national standards reviewed. The providers, CCHM Limited, were failing to comply with national standards covering respect and involvement, cooperating with other providers, care and welfare, safeguarding, medicines management, requirements relating to workers, safety and suitability of premises and assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision.

• Inspectors were concerned that staff did not engage positively with the people in their care or provide them with meaningful activities.

• Care records were not up to date and assessments of residents needs did not include sufficient detail to identify whether staff could meet people’s individual requirements.

• Inspectors found that staff had failed to seek appropriate treatment following falls and incidents that had resulted in serious injury.

• Medicines administered to residents were not always being accurately recorded or monitored by staff.

• Staff showed little understanding of good practice guidance in relation to dementia care and inspectors found that people were not cared for in an environment that was made safer and more accessible to people with dementia.

• The provider was not carrying out relevant checks when they employed staff meaning that staff qualifications and suitability to be able to work with vulnerable adults had not been properly checked.

• Effective management arrangements were not in place to enable the quality of care to be assessed, monitored and improved.

As a result of the inspection, CQC has formally warned the provider of the need to make urgent improvements. The provider has agreed to a voluntary suspension of placements until the concerns have been addressed.

Malcolm Bower-Brown, CQC’s Regional Director for the North said:

“This multiple shortfall against legally binding national standards is unacceptable and we have told The Holt Retirement Home very clearly where improvements must be made.

“We are working closely with North Yorkshire County Council to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all residents”

“We continue to monitor the situation carefully and we will inspect again in the near future to ensure residents are receiving 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 Officer, Kirstin Hannaford on 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

For more details of the findings from the inspection in January 2014, read the full report here.