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

11 May 2012

Spring Lane Residential Home is not meeting the essential standards.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told Spring Lane Residential Home that they must make improvements to comply with the essential standards of quality and safety.

Inspectors have found that the home on Spring Lane, Lambley, Nottingham, which provides nursing and personal care for up to 60 people, has failed to protect the safety and welfare of its residents.

The provider, Spring Lane Nursing Home (Lambley) Limited, was found to be failing to meet all nine essential standards of care and safety inspectors looked at.    

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

The unannounced inspection carried out on 15 Februarytook place to check on whether a warning notice issued in relation to the service had been complied with.    

When inspectors visited the home they found the care provided was falling short of standards people should be able to expect and improvements were needed.

What inspectors found:   

Cleanliness and infection control

The home had no infection prevention and control programmes in place and no risk assessments had been carried out. Some commodes, shower chairs, wheelchairs and hoists had not been properly cleaned and several items were stained with faecal matter. Inspectors observed that when staff assisted people to the toilet, they placed urine soaked clothing on the floor and did not return to collect them.

Safety and suitability of medicines

The lighting in certain areas of the home was very dim meaning those prone to falls were at a higher risk of injuring themselves. Also, several toilets and bathrooms throughout the home had no privacy lock meaning the dignity of residents could be compromised.

Staffing

People who use the service cannot be confident that their needs are being met by staff. Staff appeared to be very rushed which impacted negatively on the quality of care people received. Some residents waited up to 30 minutes to be assisted by staff and many were left waiting with nothing to entertain them.

Supporting staff

People who used the service could not be confident that they were being supported by competent staff because employees’ learning and development needs had not been adequately assessed and met.  

Safeguarding people who use services from abuse

Prior to the inspection CQC had received concerns that some staff were assisting people to move without giving them an explanation of why this was occurring. This caused undue stress to the residents involved.

Assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision

There were no recorded audits of the environment or cleanliness within the home taking place. People who used the service could not be confident that they were receiving safe care that met their needs and protected their rights. This was because there was a lack of formal systems to effectively monitor the quality and safety of services.   

Records

During CQC’s visit inspectors found confidential documents left out on a table in an area which was used by visitors to the home. Nutrition records were also not being adhered to effectively and there was no recorded access for dietetic advice, as indicated within people's nutritional assessments when they were considered at risk.   

Inspectors also identified a moderate concerns relating to respecting and involving people who use services and the care and welfare of people who use services.   

Andrea Gordon, Deputy Director of Operations (Central Region) for CQC, said:       

“The failings at Spring Lane Residential Home are a real concern. CQC has been working to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people receiving this service and we have told the provider where they need to improve.

“We will continue to monitor this service. If we had immediate concerns about people’s safety, we would take action straight away on behalf of residents.”

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