‘Inadequate’ care home improving but restrictions remain
A TEESSIDE care home rated as inadequate by inspectors has made improvements, but remains subject to serious safeguarding measures and an embargo meaning it cannot admit new residents.
Briarwood Care Home, in Normanby Road, Eston, which is run by private provider Hillcare, has been subject to a protocol put in place by the Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board since December, last year, after a rise in safeguarding referrals. The care home, which last month had 16 residents, was rated as overall ‘inadequate’ following an unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission in January.
It found a catalogue of issues including staff not wearing personal protection equipment (PPE) and managing medication properly, dirty flooring and some residents being described as “unkempt” - the personal care records of one resident showing they had only showered once in 17 days. Other concerns centred around a high turnover of staff and a heavy reliance on agency employees, along with poor documentation.
The care home was offered support to maintain a safe level of care to the existing residents and social care and health professionals reviewed care and support plans to ensure their safety and wellbeing was maintained. A recent briefing for members of Redcar and Cleveland Council’s adults and communities scrutiny committee
said a unified multi-agency action plan had been put in place for the provider to work to, with meetings being subsequently held every four to six weeks to review progress.
The report described how staff retention issues had previously led to the care home provider issuing notifications to the CQC and the council because of a lack of nursing provision on some night shifts with “contingency measures” having to be implemented to ensure nursing care was maintained to an acceptable standard. New staff had been recruited recently with staff rotas also being monitored on a weekly basis.
Until stability within the staffing structure can be demonstrated, the Eston-based home will remain under the RASC protocol and the embargo on further admissions to the home will also remain.
It was reported that a woman had been arrested after an elderly resident living at the care home sustained serious facial injuries in an incident on June 10. The resident, believed to be in her 90s, was treated at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.
A woman in her 30s was arrested by Cleveland Police on suspicion of assault and later released after questioning. A force spokeswoman said enquiries were still ongoing.
The briefing by assistant director of adult care, Victoria Wilson, said that as a result of the incident the council initiated further reviews of existing residents by social care professionals which included asking the next kin of each resident whether a move to alternative accommodation was required or requested.
It said: “To date all residents have been reviewed by social care professionals and no serious concerns were raised by professionals or family members with regard to the standards of care being received.
“There have been no requests to move to alternative care provisions by residents or family members.”
Briarwood can accommodate up to 49 residents and is registered to deliver support for general residential care, dementia and nursing needs.
A spokesman for operator Hill Care, which has 38 care homes across the UK, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that “immediate steps” had been taken to address the issues raised at the home.
Care watchdog the CQC re-inspected Briarwood last month, but has yet to release its findings.