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

17 May 2012

Summerfield Care Home in Dudley is not meeting the essential standards.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told Merron Care Limited they must make improvements at Summerfield Care Home to comply with the essential standards of quality and safety.

Inspectors found the home on Wellington Road, Dudley, West Midlands, which provides accommodation and personal care for up to 38 people, has failed to protect the safety and welfare of its residents.  

The provider, Merron Care Limited, was found to be failing to meet all five 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 5 Apriltook place to follow up concerns raised by local safeguarding authorities.

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:   

Care and welfare of people who use services

Care plans provided limited information to staff about the needs, choices and capabilities of residents. For example, inspectors observed that people who exhibited difficult behaviours did not have instructions in their care plans on how to manage this behaviour effectively.

Safeguarding people who use services from abuse

No action plans or risk assessments were in place for residents who suffered from pressure sores or had lost significant amounts of weight. Consequently, CQC made referrals to the local safeguarding team as people's health and welfare was being put at risk.

Cleanliness and infection control

The commodes inspectors looked at were dirty, there was mould in the shower and the underside of shower chairs was soiled. It was noted that mattresses were covered with plastic covers that had holes in them, which had allowed urine to seep into the mattress. The home was not clean and people were being put at increased risk of cross infection.

Safety, availability and suitability of equipment

CQC observed that furniture and floor coverings were damaged stained and needed replacing. Some mattresses and armchairs were stained with body fluids and smelt offensive. Inspectors also noted a broken vase with a sharp edge had been left on a table which could have resulted in someone cutting themselves.

Assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision

The home had recently been visited by partner agencies and healthcare professionals. All agencies had identified a need for improvement and informed CQC they have major concerns relating to the lack of cleanliness, poor care instructions and a failure to minimise the risk of pressure sores to people at the home.

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

“The failings at Summerfield Care 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