A care home in Hornchurch, Essex, has been rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and placed in special measures, following an inspection undertaken in May.
Cherry Tree, which provides care for people with physical or mental health needs, or a learning disability, was placed in special measures due to concerns about the standards of care being provided to people.
The inspection raised concerns about the lack of meaningful conversations between staff and people living at the service. There were limited opportunities for people to participate in activities or hobbies, and staff didn’t always spend time encouraging people’s independence or individuality.
Parts of the premises were poorly maintained, and confusing care plans were putting people at risk of harm.
As well as being rated inadequate overall, the service has been rated inadequate for being safe, effective, responsive and well-led. It was rated requires improvement for caring.
The service is now in special measures, which means it will be monitored closely, both by CQC and the local authority’s safeguarding team, and re-inspected to assess whether sufficient improvements have been made. If CQC isn’t assured that people are being well cared for, it will take enforcement action which, in the most serious of circumstances, could mean closing the service.
James Frewin, CCQ’s head of inspection for adult social care said:
“I am concerned that people living at Cherry Tree weren’t receiving the standards of care and support they should expect.
“There wasn’t enough consideration of people’s individual needs or preferences, and our inspectors observed people not being adequately supervised, and sitting alone for long periods without any meaningful interaction or encouragement from staff.
“Staff shortages played a part in this, but there wasn’t enough oversight of the service from leaders, which impacted on the quality of care provided.
“We have told the service what it needs to do to improve, but - if we don’t see swift and significant progress - we will not allow it to continue providing care to people.”
The inspection found there wasn’t enough information in people’s care plans to provide safe and effective care. Information about people’s mental capacity was contradictory, which meant that people’s legal rights to make decisions about their care might not be upheld.
Risk assessments were also found to be incomplete, and information about people’s dietary needs and allergies couldn’t be viewed in the kitchen. There was no risk assessment in place for one person with a food allergy, and people’s preferences on food and drink weren’t recorded.
In addition to these issues, a positive, person-centred culture wasn’t promoted at the service and people had limited opportunity to participate in activities or develop new skills.
Staff told CQC that people enjoyed spending time in the garden, but inspectors found it was overgrown and waste hadn’t been removed.
However, the deputy manager was going to arrange for trip hazards to be removed immediately. They also told CQC that the service was developing a programme of activities for people living at the service to enjoy.
In addition to these plans, inspectors saw people taking part in a swimming lesson.