Care home owner says standards ‘improved’
IMPROVEMENTS HAVE been made at a Wakefield care home where concerns were raised over the welfare of elderly residents.
The owners of Earls Lodge Care Home said they took action following a Care Quality Commission inspection which rated the facility as “inadequate”.
Police have already confirmed they have been investigating an allegation of neglect at the home in Queen Elizabeth Road, which is run by Strong Life Care Ltd.
The company said in a statement: “Strong Life Care has invested heavily to improve the service by changing the management team and upgrading the environment to be more dementiafriendly.”
The CQC published its latest inspection report on Earls Lodge on December 28.
It rated Earls Lodge as “requires improvement” for being safe, effective, responsive and well-led, but “good” for being caring.
Strong Life Care pointed out that the inspection was actually carried out last February, and a more recent report was due to be published.
The company said: “Feedback from service users and families was positive. For example, people told inspectors that they felt safe, the home was clean and tidy, staff were kind and caring.
“Staff also respected people’s privacy and dignity and promoted their independence.”
Strong Life Care said it had worked with Wakefield Council and the district’s NHS Clinical Commissioning Group to improve practices.
The CCG had also carried out three audits of the home which found improvements.
The company added: “The home was compliant in all four areas of the audit with scores in excess of 90 per cent.”
In December West Yorkshire Police confirmed it was investigating the care of five people who died of natural causes after living at Earls Lodge.