10 February 2012
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told Aspen Village Limited that they must make improvements at Forest Care Village Elstree and Borehamwood to comply with the essential standards of quality and safety.
Inspectors have found that the care home on Cardinal Avenue, Borehamwood, has failed to protect the safety and welfare of people receiving their service.
A report published by CQC says that the provider was not meeting all five essential standards inspectors looked at and in each 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 Forest Care Village Elstree and Borehamwood, which provides residential care, took place in October 2011as part of CQC’s routine programme of inspections. When inspectors visited the care service they found the care provided was falling short of standards people should be able to expect and improvements were needed. Thereport, published on the CQC website highlights five major areas of concern:
Respecting and involving people who use services
Inspectors spoke with several residents who said they were unhappy at the home and felt their views were not being listened to. Several staff told inspectors that there was a shortage of care staff meaning the individual needs of residents were not being met.
Care and welfare of people who use services
Before visiting the home, inspectors received information from a whistleblower about the lack of nursing staff at the home. Inspectors spoke with staff at the home who confirmed that the home was often under-staffed which affected the individual welfare of residents. Also, several care plans inspectors looked at were out of date, incomplete and unclear.
Staffing
In one of the service’s cognitive impairment units and in both units for those needing nursing care, inspectors found that there was not enough staff to meet people’s needs effectively. Staff informed inspectors that they had raised these concerns to management but were told that nothing could be done.
Assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision
The home had a system for monitoring and reviewing the quality of the service that they provide. However, people who use the service and their relatives felt that their concerns were not listened to and actions were not taken to address their concerns.
Requirements relating to registered managers
CQC has been contacted by relatives of residents who expressed concerns about the management of care practices at the home. At the time of the inspection, the provider had not yet submitted a valid application for a registered manager who has the necessary qualifications, skills and experience to manage the regulated activities at this service
Frances Carey, Regional Director of CQC in the East of England, said: “The failings at Forest Care Village Elstree and Borehamwood are a real concern and improvements need to be made.
“CQC has been working closely with Hertfordshire 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.
The provider has given CQC assurances since the inspection that they will work hard to improve the service and achieve compliance.
Ends
Notes to editors
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.
Find out more
You can read more about our checks on standards at Forest Care Village Elstree and Borehamwood or Aspen Village Limited.