WIREDGOV

A report which is published on the CQC website identifies the findings from a CQC inspection carried out on 29 April and 1 May 2014 as part of CQCs scheduled inspection programme for 2014/15.

When they visited the home, CQC found that the provider, Cherry Health Care Limited, was failing to meet all five national standards reviewed.

By law, providers of care services must ensure that they are meeting all standards.

Visiting inspectors reviewed a sample of care and treatment records of people living in the home, observed how care was being delivered, and spoke with residents and members of staff. As a result they found that improvements were required in a number of areas.

Inspectors found that people living at the home did not always receive care or support that was appropriate to their needs. Care plans did include an assessment of people’s individual needs; however the instructions in care plans were not always followed.

People's nutritional and fluid intake was not being adequately monitored and staff were not always able to provide support to those people who required assistance to eat and drink at mealtimes.

Inspectors raised concerns that people were not being always cared for in a clean, hygienic environment. Several areas of the home were visibly dirty and staff told inspectors that deep cleaning was not being carried out due to staff shortages

Inspectors observed that some people were not receiving their medication as prescribed and instructions for staff to administer medicines to be given “as required” were not always clear.

The home did not effectively monitor the quality of service being provided. Where audits and checks carried out had identified areas for improvement, there was no evidence to show that action had been taken to make and sustain these improvements.

As a result of the inspection, CQC has issued three formal warnings to the provider requiring improvements in relation to care and welfare of people who use services, medicines management and assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision.

The home must also take action to address shortfalls against the additional two standards that are not being met.

Debbie Westhead, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care in the North said:

“This multiple shortfall against national standards is unacceptable and we have warned Cherry Health Care Limited that immediate improvements must be made.

“We continue to monitor the situation carefully and we will inspect again in the near future to ensure residents are being given the service they are entitled to expect.”

Any regulatory decision that CQC takes is open to challenge by a registered person through a variety of internal and external appeal processes

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For further information please contact CQC Regional Communications Officer Kirstin Hannaford on 0191 233 3629.

The CQC press office can be contacted on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143