Care home closes after watchdog’s criticisms

A DONCASTER care home has closed down after it was branded ‘‘inadequate’’ twice in seven months by a watchdog

Inspectors found that Skellow Hall care home on Cross Hill scored the lowest mark of ‘‘inadequate’’ for safety and management while its care, responsiveness and effectiveness were told to improve by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The home previously failed an inspection in October 2019 and was subsequently placed into special measures under the close eye of Doncaster Council.

The registered provider has now closed the home and residents have been relocated.

Inspectors found five breaches of the Health and Social Care Act around the lack of proper risk assessments for residents, handling of medicines, failing to ensure there were skilled and experienced staff and inadequate systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service.

CQC officials said they found some residents had lost weight but this was ‘‘not monitored or reviewed’’ to ensure staff were following advice from health care professionals.

They also identified food and fluid charts were ‘‘not properly completed’’ and did not accurately reflect what people had eaten or drunk.

Some residents were said to be ‘‘lonely’’ and ‘‘bored’’ as there wasn’t much to do during the day.

Phil Holmes, director of adult services at Doncaster Council, said: “Once the owner made the decision to close, Doncaster Council worked individually with care home residents and their families to help them move to new locations that provide appropriate support in convenient locations for family visitors.”

“The concerns at Skellow Hall do not reflect Doncaster’s general situation and the strong commitment to quality from our local care homes whose staff have responded heroically to the challenge of Covid-19.”