Care home remains in special measures after latest critical report from watchdog
TROUBLED LEEDS care home Donisthorpe Hall has once again been rated as requiring improvement by the Care Quality Commission.
The latest CQC report deemed Donisthorpe inadequate in terms of being well led, a finding which has left the home’s leadership “very disappointed”. It was also found to require improvement in the four other inspection categories — safety, effectiveness, caring and responsiveness.
It mirrors the CQC’s findings from the last inspection in April. The previous three inspections graded the home as inadequate and it has been in special measures since November 2015.
The newly published report notes that Donisthorpe is registered to provide residential and nursing care for a maximum of 189 people. There were 72 residents at the time of the inspection in November, at which the CQC found that “risks around falls were not well managed” and “accidents and incidents were not always responded to appropriately.
“One person had five falls recorded since the last inspection. However, there was no evidence in the person’s file to show what had been done or followed up in relation to this.
“Another person had six falls since May 2017. Common side effects of one of their medicines included dizziness, lack of balance and feeling unsteady. There was no evidence this had been considered as a potential factor of the falls.”
Donisthorpe is credited for further improvement in medicine systems and residents told inspectors that staff were kind and caring.
“However, there was very little evidence to show how people or their representatives had been involved in making decisions about their care. Care plans and risk assessments varied in quality and did not always show how to keep people safe and provide person centred care.”
The home’s environment was “clean, pleasant, well-maintained and spacious” but did not enable those with dementia “to maintain their sense of well-being”.
Staff received training which equipped them with relevant knowledge and skills. Yet “variable” supervision meant staff and volunteers might not receive appropriate support regarding roles and responsibilities.
Meals were of a good standard with plenty to eat and drink. Yet inspectors observed that “not everyone had a good dining experience”.
The CQC pointed out that the inspection was the fifth “where we have rated the well led section as inadequate. The provider’s quality management systems were not effective; they did not always drive improvement, consistently identify trends or how they could learn lessons and prevent untoward events from recurring.”
Donisthorpe general manager Yvonne Gosset told the JC that the home’s leadership had been aware of the breaches identified by the CQC and was working to rectify them.
But there was disappointment over the continued inadequate rating for being well led, “particularly after having submitted detailed evidence to challenge their outcome decision within our response to ‘factual inaccuracies’. We have to accept the report but remain totally focused on working to improve the service for the benefit of our residents and staff.”
For adult social care services, the maximum time allowed for being in special measures is normally no more than 12 months, making Donisthorpe’s case unusual. For the restriction to be lifted, a provider cannot be rated inadequate for any of the five categories.
Risks around falls were not well managed’