‘Inadequate’ home could face closure
ACARE home could face closure after being rated inadequate for the third time in 12 months.
The latest report at Lyme Green Hall, on London Road, Macclesfield, has documented allegations of abuse, neglect and inappropriate use of residents’ finances.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) issued a damning report following a visited in November last year.
It says another inspection could happen within six months and if there is not enough improvement it ‘will move to close the service’.
Previous inspections saw the home rated as inadequate in reports published in March and June last year.
Another inspection in October found sufficient progress for Lyme Green Hall to be rated requires improvement with some aspects - including levels of care - graded as good.
But following a ‘serious incident’, which was not described in the report, the CQC returned in November for a focused inspection specifically to look at how safe and wellled the homes was.
It was found to be inadequate in both categories.
The latest report says that ‘whistleblowing’ allegations of abuse by two staff members were not reported and neither employee accused was suspended.
It detailed allegations of neglect, which included one resident found in ‘urine soaked clothing and bed linen with their lunch scattered over their bedding’ at 6.30pm.
Allegations of ‘financial abuse’ of residents were also described, with the report saying: “Financial records for people living in the home had no record regarding who consented to the amounts of money being withdrawn.
“Some receipts we viewed were not robust with a company letter headed paper or stamp to confirm how the money was being spent. This raised doubt over the legitimacy of the receipts to verify them.”
Again this was said to have gone unreported.
Recruitment was criticised with one employee having had a conviction flagged up on their DBS check but no written risk assessment of this on their file.
Other criticisms included incomplete fire alarm tests, inadequate window restrictors and also gaps on the rota where the staffing levels were unsafe. A Pendle- bury Care Homes spokesman said specialist company Caresolve had been brought in to help run the home following the latest CQC report.
He said: “We are passionate about improving standards at the home and have been working hard to make changes.
“Over the coming months we will be making more changes and are looking forward to welcoming the CQC back in the near future.”
Ben Challinor, from Caresolve, said that appointing new and experienced staff and management was one of a number of changes that had already been made.