‘Inadequate’ care home placed in special measures by inspectors

A SHEFFIELD care home has been placed into special measures after it was branded “inadequate” by a Government health watchdog.

Fulwood Lodge care home was criticised by the CQC after inspectors uncovered a raft of failings.

The home given the lowest rating on safety, management and effectiveness during an unannounced inspection on December 12, 2016.

Inspectors found five breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 which related to safety, staffing and dignity and respect.

But staff members were praised by some relatives of residents when speaking to CQC inspectors.

A 19-page report by health inspectors highlighted that one staff member didn’t have any employer references and no evidence could be found to prove three staff members had been DBS checked.

Staffing levels on some shifts had fallen below the number required on duty on the day of the inspection.

The report also noted that residents were sometimes left alone in the communal areas and a trolley was left unattended in the corridor which contained residents’ personal information.

A CQC spokesman said: “Services in special measures will be kept under review and, if we have not taken immediate action to propose to cancel the provider’s registration of the service, will be inspected again within six months.”

A spokesman from Silver Health Care who run Fulwood Lodge said: “Silver Health Care is working very closely with all of the CQC’s concerns and we are confident that these concerns will be addressed without delay.”