The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Eastbourne Care Home in Darlington, inadequate and placed the home into special measures to protect people, following an inspection which started on 2 December.
Eastbourne Care Home, run by Eastbourne House Ltd, provides nursing and personal care for up to 41 people, some of whom are living with dementia.
This was CQC’s first inspection of the service since a new provider had taken over the management of the home. Following this inspection, the overall rating for the service, as well as the areas of safe and well-led are rated as inadequate. The areas of effective, caring and responsive are rated requires improvement.
The service has been placed in special measures which means it will be kept under close review by CQC to keep people safe and it will be monitored to check sufficient improvements have been made.
During the inspection CQC found four breaches of regulations in relation to people’s care and treatment, safeguarding people from abuse, staff training and the management of the service. CQC issued two warning notices following the inspection to focus the provider’s attention on making significant improvements around people’s care and treatment, and the management of the service.
Victoria Marsden, CQC deputy director of operations in the north, said:
“When we inspected Eastbourne Care Home, it was disappointing that ineffective leadership had led to shortfalls in the quality of care, placing people at risk of harm. A new management team was now in post, and we will continue to monitor their progress.
“We were concerned that people’s medicines and treatment weren’t being managed in a timely way, for example one person’s urine sample was sent late for analysis which delayed treatment for their infection.
“People living at the home raised concerns about the inappropriate practices and attitudes of certain night staff. Managers were aware of these safeguarding concerns but they hadn’t been raised to the appropriate agencies.
“People weren’t being supported by suitably trained staff. We identified shortfalls with staff practices regarding medicines management, nutrition and hydration, continence care, managing distressed behaviours and record keeping.
“It’s positive that leaders have put an action plan in place which included a clinical education programme for staff, as well as recruiting a team to oversee the service and implement improvements.
“We have told leaders where we expect to see rapid, and continued improvements and will continue to monitor the home closely to keep people safe during this time. We will return to check on their progress and won’t hesitate to use our regulatory powers further if people aren’t receiving the care they have a right to expect.”
Inspectors found:
- People’s immediate needs weren’t always responded to promptly or in line with their wishes.
- Records showed lessons weren’t always learned or shared with staff following accidents, incidents or safeguarding concerns.
- People weren’t supported to receive their medicines safely and one medicine in use was out of date.
- Records didn’t always demonstrate how complaints and concerns were fully addressed and investigated.
- Several staff said more activities were required to meet people’s needs.
- Audits weren’t effective at implementing improvements in a timely way.
However:
- Staff spoke affectionately about the people they supported.
- At mealtimes staff offered people choices and second helpings and provided encouragement for those who were reluctant to eat.
- The provider has implemented a training and development programme to review and improve the clinical and care skills of its team.
The report will be published on CQC’s website in the next few days.