15 March 2012
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told Cranford Care Homes Limited that it must make improvements at Cranford Residential to comply with the essential standards of quality and safety.
Inspectors have found that the care home on Warrington Road, Rainhill, Liverpool, 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 three 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 Cranford Residential, which provides accommodation and personal care for up to 24 residents, took place in February 2012 to follow up on concerns raised about standards of care.
When inspectors visited the care service in February 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 three major areas of concern:
Safeguarding people who use services from abuse
Inspectors found that the registered manager and care staff working at the home had a limited understanding of the safeguarding process and were unclear as to what action was required when raising a safeguarding alert. Staff had not undertaken appropriate safeguarding training, and this was potentially placing residents at risk of harm or abuse.
Following CQC’s inspection, the local authority will be providing safeguarding training to all staff.
Supporting staff
Inspectors reviewed a sample of staff files and found no evidence of relevant training having taken place. The registered manager confirmed that staff had not received recent training in medication administration, and had not completed any form of assessment regards their competency to administer medicines. In addition, formal staff supervisions were not being carried out on a regular basis.
Assessing and monitoring service provision
Inspectors found that the provider did not have appropriate systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of service being provided. Checks were not being undertaken to review resident’s care plans or to identify, assess and manage the risks relating to the health and welfare of people living in the home.
During their visit,inspectors also identified moderate concerns in relation to care and welfare, and also respect and involvement of people using the service.
Debbie Westhead, CQC Regional Lead for the North West, said:
“The failings at Cranford Residential are a real concern and improvements need to be made.
“CQC has been working closely with the local authority 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 the CQC Regional Communications Team, David Fryer 07901 514 220 or Kirstin Hannaford 0191 233 3629.
The CQC press office can be contacted on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.
Notes to editors
Read the reports
Read the reports from our checks on standards at Cranford Residential Care Home.