29 May 2014
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told the registered provider of Chapel Brook House Nursing & Residential Care Home, Moody Street, Congleton that they must take immediate action to improve standards of care.
A report which is published on the CQC website this week identifies the findings from a CQC inspection carried out in May 2014 to follow up on improvements required at a previous inspection.
When they visited the home, CQC found that the provider, Stylepeople Limited, was failing to meet all six of the national standards reviewed.
By law, providers of care services must ensure that they are meeting all standards.
Visiting inspectors reviewed a sample of care and treatment records of people living in the home, observed how care was being delivered, and spoke with residents and members of staff. As a result they found that improvements were still required in a number of areas.
- Inspectors were concerned that there was a lack of activities available and saw residents sitting for long periods of time with nothing to do.
- Some people who had been identified at “high risk of weight loss” were not being monitored closely and were only weighed on a monthly basis, despite weekly weight checks being a requirement stated in their care plans
- Inspectors reviewed a sample of medication administration records and found discrepancies or missing information in all of them meaning it was not always clear whether residents had received their medication as prescribed.
- A review of medications remaining in stock also revealed that on occasions medication records had been signed to indicate medicines had been administered when they had not.
- Inspectors raised concerns that the conservatory area within the home (which was being used as a medication store and staff office) did not meet health and safety regulations due to a leak in the ceiling. This matter was escalated to the Health and Safety Executive and the provider has been asked to address this issue as a priority.
- Although inspectors found improvements had been made to ensure that the majority of staff had undertaken mandatory training, some staff were not being supported to carry out their roles by regular supervision sessions.
- The home did not effectively monitor the quality of service being provided. Whilst care plans and medication records were being audited the reports from these audits were incomplete and in some cases incorrect.
As a result of these findings CQC is currently considering the need for further regulatory action and will report in due course on any action they do decide to take.
Debbie Westhead, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care in the North said:
“The failings at Chapel Brook House are a real concern and we have told the provider where immediate improvements need to be made.
“We are monitoring the situation very carefully and will not hesitate to take further action should this prove necessary to ensure the people using the service receive safe and effective care."
Any regulatory decision that CQC takes is open to challenge by a registered person through a variety of internal and external appeal processes.
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For further information please contact 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
Find out more
Read reports from our checks on the standards at Chapel Brook House Nursing & Residential Care Home.