CARE HOME SHUT DOWN
Sheriff acts on concerns for residents
A sheriff yesterday ordered an East Kilbride care home to be closed down after serious concerns were raised over the care of vulnerable residents.
Dumbarton Sheriff Court granted an interim suspension at Acorn Park following a closure order application from the Care Inspectorate.
The move came after an unannounced inspection on the back of a report revealing continuing unsafe practices at the College Milton facility, operated by care home providers Bute House Limited. The social care watchdog told the News: “We had serious concerns about the quality of care experienced by people.”
An under-fire East Kilbride care home is to close after a watchdog admitted there were “serious concerns” over the care of its vulnerable elderly residents.
A sheriff at Dumbarton Sheriff Court issued Acorn Park care home providers Bute House Limited with an interim suspension order following a closure order application by the Care Inspectorate.
The suspension of the care service’s registration will take effect from Tuesday, September 18 .
Ahead of the court hearing, which came on the back of an unannounced inspection, the care watchdog told the News the move to cancel the service’s registration was “not taken lightly” but was a necessary measure to protect the safety of residents.
The privately-run home – which looks after up to 38 elderly people with physical disabilities and dementia – has long been criticised for unacceptable levels of care and was threatened with closure by the social care watchdog in 2014.
However, it was the new management’s failure to improve following recommendations made in a first inspection in May that led to the crisis-hit College Milton-based facility facing court action.
A spokesman for the Care Inspectorate said: “We took the decision to apply to court as we had serious concerns about the quality of care experienced by people living in Acorn Park care home.
“The Care Inspectorate welcomes the decision of the court today granting an interim suspension of the care service’s registration with effect from September 18, 2018. We anticipate a further hearing will be held in due course.
“We recognise that this will be a very worrying time for the residents and their families. South Lanarkshire health and social care partnership and other partnerships are in close contact with relatives and are making arrangements to support people to move into alternative care settings where they will be safe and cared for with dignity and compassion.
“Most care in Scotland is good or better but we will not hesitate to address unsatisfactory and weak care wherever we see it.”
The News understands places at other care facilities have been found for all residents.
But with details of the latest inspection report not being made available until next month, one anxious relative feels they are being left in the dark as to how serious the problems are at Acorn Park.
One woman, who did not wish to be named, said unsettling her mum, who suffers from dementia, at this stage in her life could be hugely detrimental to her health and wellbeing.
“It’s just one thing after another,” she said. “I’m fuming that we’re in the dark as to what has been going on and how bad it is. It’s very unsettling.
“The people in there are extremely vulnerable so this needs to be done right.”
In the May report, quality of care and support, quality of environment and quality of staffing were all graded as ‘weak’.
Inspectors were particularly concerned about the lack of understanding of the communication and support needs of those living with dementia and the lack of empathy shown towards those residents.
They found that there was an overall lack of stimulation or meaningful activity for the residents and found no clear evidence of discussion and exploration of what
activities the residents would benefit from.
Alarmingly, residents told inspectors there wasn’t much to do and one said when asked about outings into the local community: “That doesn’t happen. Once you are in, you are in”.
It was noted that some residents were spending too long without being supported to move, reposition or to have their continence needs met. Inspectors were disappointed in the poor hygiene levels.
Continuing unsafe practices and the lack of urgent action taken to address serious concerns raised within recent audits by external bodies – including two visits by environmental health – were also identified as a concern.
South Lanarkshire Council’s chief social worker Liam Purdie said: “The Care Inspectorate has notified social work resources that it is taking formal court proceedings in relation to the closure of Acorn Park care home. The council is working closely with the Inspectorate and the care providers to ensure the safe transition of all residents to new placements.”
In a statement through their solicitor Asim Khan of D and F Lawyers, Acorn Park said: “The home remains open for the care of current residents. The home is cooperating and working diligently with the Care Inspectorate and social care services to alleviate their concerns which are currently being investigated by the home’s management.”
Previous owners Balpride Limited were served with a formal improvement notice in 2014 and criticised for care failures including infection control and the administration of medicine.
That year, four separate complaints raised concerns over Acorn Park’s record in preventing falls and accidents, use of pressure mats, administering personal care and keeping relatives informed.
Ex-nurse and deputy manager Catherine Robertson was struck off in 2015 after failing to give residents their medication.
I am fuming that we are in the dark as to what has been going on... Resident’s daughter