A registered manager has been ordered to pay £2,511 at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, following a prosecution by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for failing to provide safe care and treatment to a resident at Oakbank Care Home.
Mrs Parminder Kaur, the registered manager of Oakbank Care Home, pleaded guilty to an offence of failing to provide safe care and treatment to Patrick McGinty, thereby exposing Mr McGinty to a significant risk of avoidable harm.
Mr McGinty was admitted to Oakbank Care Home, in Manchester, on 24 December 2019 and was noted as being at high risk of falls and could only walk short distances with a walking stick and under supervision. Mr McGinty’s presentation deteriorated, and he was experiencing signs of confusion. Mr McGinty suffered several falls during his admission at Oakbank. On the advice of his GP in order to rule out a head injury, Mr McGinty was admitted to North Manchester General Hospital on 24 January 2020. Four days later on 28 January 2020, Mr McGinty sadly passed away.
An investigation by CQC found that Mrs Kaur failed to ensure that Mr McGinty’s risk assessments and care plans were adequate in dealing with management of falls, that there was adequate reporting of falls, and there was a failure to respond appropriately to changes in Mr McGinty’s behaviour. These failures meant that Mrs Kaur did not provide Mr McGinty with safe care and treatment, and thereby exposed Mr McGinty to a significant risk of avoidable harm. As a result of these findings, CQC brought a prosecution against the registered manager of the home.
Mrs Kaur was fined £830 in court today (Wednesday 29 November). She was also ordered to pay £181 victim surcharge and £1,500 costs to CQC which brought the prosecution.
Alison Chilton, CQC’s deputy director of operations in the north, said:
“Mr McGinty was let down by Parminder Kaur who failed in her duty as registered manager to protect him in a place he should have been safe and receiving the best possible care to meet his individual needs.
“I hope this case reminds social care providers of their legal duty to always take all reasonable steps to ensure people’s safety.
“This fine is not representative of the extent of the failures Mr McGinty received, but this, and the prosecution reminds all care providers they must always ensure people’s safety and manage risks to their wellbeing.
“The majority of registered managers do an excellent job but when they don’t, we can and will take action to hold them to account and protect people.”