CQC tell another care home to improve services

The owners of a care home at Congresbury in North Somerset have been told they must take action to ensure that people are protected from unsafe or inappropriate care.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found that the Leonard Elms care home was failing to meet six of the essential standards of quality and safety. The home provides nursing care for older people, some with dementia.

The CQC identified concerns with the care and welfare of residents, inadequate nutrition, staffing levels, notification of incidents and the home's own systems to monitor the quality of its services. Another concern was that the home had been without a registered manager since December 2010.

CQC has given the registered provider, Mr Paul Bliss, seven days to produce plans showing how he intends to achieve compliance. Providers of care services have a legal responsibility to make sure they are meeting the essential standards of quality and safety.

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Kent Care Home Closed After CQC Take Urgent Action

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has taken urgent enforcement action leading to the closure of a care home in Tunbridge Wells in Kent.

The home, Four Nevill Park, had been registered to provide care for up to 24 adults with autism and challenging behaviour.

In an unannounced visit, inspectors found that the home was not meeting the CQC's essential standards of quality and safety and that people were not experiencing effective, safe and appropriate care, treatment and support.

Inspectors reported a range of concerns, including staff lacking skills and experience, low staffing levels, poor documentation, lack of behavioural support plans, staff being threatened and bullied, and residents’ complaints not being recorded or resolved.

CQC inspectors raised their immediate concerns with the providers, Evesleigh (Kent) Limited, following the inspection in June, working closely with Kent County council social services.

On 23 June CQC served a Notice of decision to vary the registration of Evesleigh (Kent) Limited under Section 31 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This means that this location is no longer registered to care for people and by law cannot continue as a care home.

Kent County Council and other local authorities have found alternative placements for the remaining 13 people who were living at the home which is now empty.

Roxy Boyce, Regional Director for CQC in the south east, said: “We have acted quickly to protect the safety and welfare of people at Four Nevill Park.

“Taking action which leads to the closure of a care home is never a decision taken lightly. These are places where people live and we have to weigh up the potential impact on residents.

"But the provider failed in its duty to provide necessary standards of care. The only way to properly protect residents at Four Nevill Park was to close the home immediately.”

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