29 November 2011
The Care Quality Commission has issued a formal warning to Crocus Care Ltd that it must ensure that it always provides adequate care.
The warning notice followed an unannounced visit by inspectors to South Efford House, Aveton Gifford, near Kingsbridge South Devon and further investigation during October. The home is registered to provide care for up to 22 people.
Inspectors found that the registered provider, Crocus Care Ltd, had failed to protect a person in the care of South Efford House from injury. The service did not have the necessary systems in place to protect the person from harm. The risks that affected the person had not been adequately assessed and clear directions to protect the person from harm had not been given to the staff.
Although inspectors found on 4 October that the situation had now been made safe, Crocus Care Ltd is being warned that it must always have the necessary measures in place to keep all the people that live at South Efford House safe from harm.
Ian Biggs, regional director of CQC in the South West, said: "The law says that these are the standards that everyone should be able to expect. Providers have a duty to ensure they are compliant.
“This warning sends a clear and public message that South Efford House needs to give care that always keeps people safe, or face serious consequences.
“Our inspectors will return in the future and if we find that the provider is not maintaining standards we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers to protect the people who live there."
Ends
For further information please contact the CQC press office on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.
Notes to editors
CQC will publish further details of the inspector’s findings on its website at a later date.
CQC has issued a warning notice to Crocus Care Ltd requiring them to take action to meet:
• Regulation 9 Health and Social Care Act (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2009, Care and Welfare of people who use services.
If the provider fails to make the required improvements, 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.
Read the reports
Read the reports from our checks on standards at South Efford House.