CQC requires improvement at Loran House in Hull

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told the registered provider of Loran House, Albert Avenue, Hull, that they must take immediate action to improve standards of care.   

A report which is published on the CQC website today identifies the findings from an unannounced CQC inspection carried out on the 12 and 13 May 2014 as part of CQCs scheduled inspection programme for 2014/15.

When they visited the home, CQC found that the provider, Sandco 1 Limited, was failing to meet eight out of the ten national standards that inspectors assessed.

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.

Inspectors found that people living at the home were supported by staff to maintain their independence; staff gave encouragement and showed patience when supporting people. However, they also found that improvements were required in a number of areas.

• Inspectors raised concerns that resident’s health and care needs were not being assessed on a regular basis. People who used the service and their relatives had not always been involved in writing plans of care and care plans were not being reviewed and updated appropriately.
• Residents were not being kept safe from the risk of harm because a large number of staff had not received training on how to keep vulnerable adults safe. In addition, inspectors found evidence of safeguarding incidents having occurred at the home that had not been notified to CQC as required by law.
• The home was generally well maintained, however, the provider did not follow best practice guidance in relation to infection prevention and control. This was particularly concerning given that the home provided care to people on “end of life” pathways who are extremely susceptible to contacting infections.
• At the time of their visit inspectors found that there were insufficient numbers of staff on duty to support people's individual needs and promote their independence. Staff told inspectors that they needed more staff and relatives also raised this as a concern.
• Staff training records showed that the majority of staff had not received appropriate training in key areas such as safeguarding, infection control or health and safety, and staff were not being supported through regular appraisals.
• The home was failing to effectively monitor the quality of service being provided and incidents and errors were not analysed to identify trends and put actions in place to prevent reoccurrence.
• Personal care records for people using the service were not being updated and were not always stored securely. In addition, staff records and other records relevant to the management of the service contained inaccuracies.

As a result of the inspection, CQC has issued five formal warnings to the provider requiring improvements in relation to care and welfare of people who use services, safeguarding of people who use services from abuse, cleanliness and infection control, supporting workers, and assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision.

The home must also take action to address shortfalls against the additional three standards that are not being met.

Debbie Westhead, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care in the North said:

“This multiple shortfall against national standards is unacceptable and we have warned Sandco 1 Limited that immediate improvements must be made.

“We continue to monitor the situation carefully and we will inspect again in the near future to ensure residents are being given 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 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