Care home is rated as inadequate
A Halifax nursing home has been rated inadequate and placed into special measures after the Care Quality Commission found “widespread and significant management shortfalls”.
Summerfield House Nursing Home, on Gibbet Street, is a residential care home providing nursing and personal care for up to 107 people, some of whom are living with dementia.
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the management of the home, people’s care and treatment, and how their privacy and dignity was maintained.
The inspection was also prompted by notifications received regarding incidents where people's safety, health and wellbeing had been put at risk. These incidents are subject to further investigation by CQC as to whether any further regulatory action should be taken. As a result, this inspection didn’t examine the circumstances of the incidents.
Inspectors looked at the areas of safe, caring, and wellled at this inspection. Following this inspection, the overall rating for the home dropped from requires improvement to inadequate.
Safe and well-led dropped from requires improvement to inadequate and caring droppedfromgoodtorequires improvement. Responsive and effective weren’t inspected and remain rated requires improvement.
The service has been placed in special measures which means it will be kept under close review by CQC to keep people safe and it will be monitored to check sufficient improvements have been made. CQC is also taking further regulatory action which will be reported on when legally able to do so.
Sheila Grant, CQC deputy director of operations in the north, said: “When we inspected Summerfield House, we found widespread and significant shortfalls in the management and oversight of the service.
"There were several areas of concern where people’s safety, care and dignity was being compromised due to standards that had been allowed to slip.
“Leaders took action during and after the inspection in response to the concerns raised and an action plan has been put in place. An additional senior management teamwasalsobeingbroughtin to support staff, so we expect to see the necessary improvements being made as quickly as possible to ensure nobody comes to harm.
“We saw care records that showed repeated occasions where staff had been physically assaulted by people who were distressed. During the inspection we saw people showing signs of distress and calling out for support from staff, but they were often ignored which is totally unacceptable.
“However, we did see some positive areas of care. Despite some staff not treating people with dignity and respect, we did see some who were patient, gentle and kind and listened to people. We also observed people enjoying activities and one-to-one time with staff members.
“We have told leaders where we expect to see rapid and widespread improvements and we will continue to monitor the home closely to keep people safe during this time.
"We will return to check on their progress and won’t hesitate to take further action if people aren’t receiving the care they have a right to expect.”
Bondcare, the owners of the care home, was contacted by the Halifax Courier for comment.