CQC warns care home in Norwich it needs to do more to protect the safety and welfare of people

1 March 2013

The Care Quality Commission has issued formal warnings to Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited saying they must make improvements to standards of care at The Warren or face further action.

The warnings follow unannounced visits by inspectors to the care home in Wroxham Road, Sprowston, Norwich, Norfolk, on 15 and 17 January 2013.

During the visits inspectors found the owners of The Warren needed to make improvements in relation to records and suitability of staffing.

• Staff raised concerns that they had not received appropriate training to allow them to carry out their daily care duties effectively.
• The members of staff inspectors spoke with had little knowledge of the Mental Health Act or the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards guidance.
• Nutrition and weight charts were not being completed accurately or appropriately.
• No falls awareness training had been completed by staff despite several serious injuries occurring at the home as a result of falls.
• There were discrepancies between what was instructed in people’s care plans and what was being carried out.

Andrea Gordon, Deputy Director of Operations (regions), said: "The law says these are the standards that everyone should be able to expect. Providers have a duty to ensure they are compliant.

“These warnings send a clear message that the owner of The Warren needs to address these issues or face further consequences.

“Our inspectors will return in the near future and if we find that the required progress is not made we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers to protect the people who use this service."

The Warren is a residential care home providing care and support to older people, some of whom may be living with dementia.

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For further information please contact Helen Gildersleeve, regional communications officer, on 0191 2333379 or the CQC press office on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.

Notes to editors

CQC has issued the warning notices to: Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited, Suite 201, The Chambers, Chelsea Harbour, London, SW10 0XF, owner of The Warren, requiring that action is taken to meet:

• Regulation 20, records and Regulation 23, suitability of staffing, Health and Social Care Act (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010.

Inspectors will carry out a further unannounced visit to assess whether the necessary improvements have been made.

If improvements are not made, CQC has a range of enforcement powers which include restricting the services that a provider can offer, or, in the most serious cases, suspending or cancelling a service. CQC can also issue financial penalty notices and cautions or prosecute the provider for failing to meet essential standards. Any regulatory decision that CQC takes is open to challenge by a registered person through a variety of internal and external appeal processes.