HOME RESIDENTS ‘AT RISK’
WORKERS TELL INSPECTORS THEY ARE ‘VERY TIRED, VERY BUSY, DOING THEIR BEST’
RESIDENTS at a Loughborough care home were found to be at risk of harm because of inadequate staffing levels.
The staff that were on shift at Huntingdon Court when the Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited the home in November 2019, told inspectors they were “very tired and very busy” and “doing their best”.
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns about risk and allegations of abuse.
The Mercury understands there is an ongoing police and county council investigation into the allegations and poor practice.
One staff member said that a colleague had been reported for being “rough” with a resident and as a result they no longer worked there.
The home – which was given an overall rating of inadequate – was placed in special measures. Inspectors will revisit in the next six months to check on its progress.
CQC inspectors found that there had been 11 unwitnessed falls at the home in just two months.
They saw residents who had been assessed as needing constant supervision because they were at risk of falls left alone because there were not enough staff on shift to support them.
One staff member told the CQC team that one resident had a fall in the communal lounge while they tended to other people. They said they “heard a bang” and when they found the person they were on the floor. A paramedic attended to treat them for a cut lip and nose bleed. Another care worker said that the start of the morning shift was “particularly risky” and that staff were worried about people’s safety. Staff were said to be extremely busy and often in a hurry. There were 36 people living at the home at the time of the inspection, nine needed 2:1 care, 20 were at risk of falling.
Despite this, rotas showed that there were five care staff and two team leaders on shift in the day and just one team leader and three care staff on night shifts.
On the first night of the inspection one carer didn’t turn up for their shift and wasn’t replaced. This meant there were only two staff on duty, and two people had falls and were found on the floor.
At least four people were seen to be regularly up during the night, one of whom had a history of “episodes of aggression”, while several others were at risk of falling.
Staff and residents said they had raised the staffing issue with bosses but no action had been taken.
The home was described as “clean, tidy and fresh” by inspectors.
Residents said most of the staff were caring and kind. One said: “Staff are really nice and have a laugh with us.” A relative told inspectors: “The staff are very kind and caring, they are what makes the home.”
Inspectors said staff did not always have time to spend with people and were not always available.
There were no records of complaints despite relatives telling inspectors they had raised concerns.
Inspectors also said: “The provider had not taken sufficient action when things went wrong and did not learn lessons in order to improve. Safeguarding procedures did not protect people from abuse.”
They saw residents assessed as needing constant supervision as they were at risk of falls left alone