Essex care home has failed to protect people’s safety and welfare says regulator

16 March 2012

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told St Michael’s Care Home for the Elderly that they must make improvements to comply with the essential standards of quality and safety.

Inspectors have found that the care home on Meteor Road has failed to protect the safety and welfare of people receiving their care.

A report published by CQC says that the provider was not meeting 11 essential standards inspectors looked at and in five of these areas a major concern was identified.

Providers of care services have a legal responsibility to make sure they are meeting all essential standards of quality and safety.

The visit to St Michael’s Care Home for the Elderly, which provides personal care for up to eight people, took place in January 2012 as part of CQC’s routine programme of inspections. When inspectors visited the care agency they found the care provided was falling short of standards people should be able to expect and improvements were needed. The report, published on the CQC website, highlights five major areas of concern:

Care and welfare of people who use services

Inspectors found that care management for people living in the home did not meet their needs and the supporting care management plans were very basic and did not outline and review the needs of people sufficiently. Many plans were out of date and staff showed a lack of understanding about the assessment and management of people’s needs

Meeting nutritional needs

People living in the home were not having their nutritional needs properly assessed and managed. Staff were unable to weigh some people due to the lack of suitable scales. Food items in the fridges were wrapped in foil and not dated, meaning keeping track of out of date food was difficult. Staff were noted to defrost meat by leaving it in the kitchen sink covered in hot water which is a food hygiene concern. People living at the home cannot be confident that their nutritional needs were being met.

Management of medicines

Inspectors found the home’s medication procedures did not give staff guidance on medication storage and the use of controlled medications. There was no medication auditing system was in place at the home and shortfalls were found in the recording of administered medications. The home does not have the correct facilities for the storage of controlled medication. Inspectors also found that medication items that should have been stored in a secure cupboard were stored in the kitchen fridge rather than a recognised medication fridge that can be locked.

Staffing

The service failed to notify CQC that their provider had moved abroad during the summer of 2011. CQC require notification when a provider has been absent for more than 28 days. Inspectors found that people living in the home cannot be assured that staff are suitably skilled and competent enough to meet their needs.

Assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision

Risk assessments were not being carried out and accident records had not been acknowledged or signed by management. Management were unaware of the formal notifications process in relation to the running of a care home which may place people at further risk. The provider does not have any quality assurance systems in place that help to drive improvements in the home.

During their visit, inspectors also identified moderate concerns relating to respecting and involving people who use services, safeguarding people who use services from abuse, safety and suitability of premises, safety, availability and suitability of equipment, requirements relating to workers and supporting staff.

Frances Carey, Regional Director of CQC in the East of England, said: “The failings at St Michael’s Care Home for the Elderly are a real concern and improvements need to be made.

“CQC has been working closely with Southend on Sea Borough Council to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people receiving this service and we have told the provider where they need to improve.

“Where improvements are not made we have a range of enforcement powers that can be used, including prosecution, closure or restriction of services.”

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 Helen Gildersleeve, regional communications officer, on 0191 233 3379. The CQC press office is also available on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.

Notes to editors