15 March 2012
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told Westhorpe Care Limited that it must make improvements at Westhorpe Hall Residential Home to comply with the essential standards of quality and safety.
Inspectors have found that the care home on The Street in Westhorpe 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 five essential standards inspectors looked at and in all 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 Westhorpe Hall Residential Home, whichprovides residential care for up to 21 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. Thereport, published on the CQC website highlights five major areas of concern:
Respecting and involving people who use services
Some residents had no care plans in place at all and had not had their needs assessed prior to being admitted at the home.
Care and welfare of people who use services
During CQC’s previous visit in December, inspectors spoke with management about the home’s hoist and bath hoist which had not been serviced. During the January inspection, CQC found that the bath hoist had been serviced but the hoist had not. Not having a working hoist in the home when one is needed is putting both people living at the home and care workers at risk of harm.
Safeguarding people who use services from abuse
The service was endangering the health of residents and staff because of their failure to provide equipment that was properly maintained and suitable for purpose. Also, the home ran out of oil during a cold spell in December leaving the home without central heating for several days. Risk assessments relating to the dangers of a home being without heat were not carried out.
Supporting staff
Staff informed inspectors that they had not had sufficient training and had received no one-to-one supervision. Newer staff members received no induction training when they started their roles and have been administering medicines before receiving any medication training.
Assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision
The provider had not visited the home in the past year and had not carried out any form of quality assurance audit visits. Annual quality assurance surveys were not being carried out within the home either, meaning residents were not being given the opportunity to voice their opinions on the running of the home.
Frances Carey, Regional Director of CQC in the East of England, said: “The failings at Westhorpe Hall Residential Home are a real concern and improvements need to be made.
“CQC has been working closely with Suffolk County 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
Read the reports
Read the reports from our checks on standards at Westhorpe Hall Residential Home.