The Care Quality Commission has rated Precious Homes Hertfordshire inadequate for a second time following a focused inspection in October.
Precious Homes Hertfordshire provides supported living and personal care services for up to 15 people who have a learning disability, autism or mental health needs. As CQC does not regulate premises for supporting living, this inspection examined the location’s provision of personal care, for which ten people were being supported at the time.
The inspection was carried out due to concerns received in relation to safeguarding, medicines management, and the meeting of people’s health and support needs. It focused on how safe, effective, and well-led the service was. All three of these areas were rated as inadequate at this inspection.
Caring and responsive remain rated as inadequate from a previous inspection in May, where the service was placed into special measures.
CQC previously conducted a comprehensive inspection of the location in June 2022, where it was rated as inadequate overall and placed into special measures.
Debbie Ivanova, CQC’s director for people with a learning disability and autistic people, said:
"During our inspection of Precious Homes Hertfordshire, we were disappointed to find insufficient improvements had been made following our previous inspection, and the provider continued to offer a service which placed people’s wellbeing and safety at risk. This is unacceptable.
“We saw instances of restrictive practice. This is unacceptable, and these incidents show a worrying lack of understanding from staff of the people they are supporting.
“This and other evidence, confirmed to us that staff didn’t have the appropriate training and skills to keep people safe.
“We found breaches in regulation around safety, medicine management and governance. We are taking further enforcement action to protect people, and we will report on this as soon as we’re able to. We will continue to monitor this service in the meantime to ensure people’s safety.”
Inspectors found:
- Staff lacked adequate inductions, training or skills to support people using the service
- Inspectors saw examples of degrading and neglectful care
- The service did not support people to have maximum choice and control of their lives
- Management did not ensure medicines were managed safely
- The provider didn’t have effective systems in place to report and respond to accidents and incidents. Staff did not always understand how to protect people from poor care and abuse
- Some people said they did not feel safe with the support they received
- Staff had mixed views on a number of changes in management, and the culture of the service failed to support the provision of high-quality care and support.
The location remains in special measures and would will be due for another inspection in six months, if CQC does not move to restrict the location’s registration.