Care boss: ‘We’ve let people down’ but will improve

JEWISH CARE’S chief executive admits the charity has “let people down” following a poor inspection report at one of its homes. But it is in “overdrive” to improve matters.

Simon Morris was speaking after the Care Quality Commission found Rubens House in Finchley required improvement in all five inspection categories. A subsequent CQC report on the charity’s Lady Sarah Cohen House in Friern Barnet deemed the home good in two categories but requiring improvement in three — safety, effectiveness and leadership. “Requires improvement” was the overall rating for both homes.

Jewish Care’s Sidney Corob House in West Hampstead was rated good overall in another recent CQC report.

Mr Morris accepts that the Rubens House report is not good news. “But it’s not inadequate — it’s a home that requires improvement.

“As soon as we heard we got ‘requires improvement’, we went into overdrive. It isn’t good enough for us. We want to be outstanding. Our focus is now on making sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Management have already outlined action plans to residents and relatives at both Rubens and Lady Sarah Cohen. And Mr Morris is keen to put the “disappointing” CQC findings into context.

“We have 13 registered services — 11 are good and two require improvement. So 85 per cent of our services are good, though obviously we would like them to be 100 per cent.”

Mr Morris says Rubens House has lacked strong management and as such, the CQC’s findings were not a surprise. But the grading for Lady Sarah Cohen House, a nursing home for 120 people, had been Caring at Lady Sarah Cohen House and (inset) the front of the CQC report on Rubens House

unexpected. “We have a really strong manager in Lady Sarah Cohen House and the work she’s done has been amazing.

“It’s difficult to keep morale up. [Staff] work so hard, such long hours and under such pressure… then to find the care they’ve been providing has been criticised.

“We are in dialogue with the CQC over the report. I would like to understand how they have come to some of the conclusions and to work together to make sure it will be better next time.”

The charity is operating in “the toughest care environment” Mr Morris has experienced

“We are living longer and with more complex needs, which adds enormous pressure.”

There are no legal requirements for carer-to-resident ratios but Jewish Care aims high. Mr Morris disputes the perception of the inspectors that there are insufficient staff.

“We work on a one-to-four ratio. If you look at the rest of the sector, we are significantly ahead of that.

“I would like to develop one-to-one staffing 24/7 but the funding of care doesn’t allow us to do that. We believe a ratio of one-to-four is very safe.”

‘Our focus is now on making sure that doesn’t happen again ’