A WORSRBOUGH care home has been closed by the council due to ‘a number of breaches of health and safety’.
Rockley Dene, based on Park Road, was a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 35 people, many of which were living with dementia.
At its latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection last February, the home was told it ‘requires improvement’ - as it was in 2019.
It was also rated ‘inadequate’ and placed in special measures in its two inspections in 2018.
The home subsequently had its contract with the council terminated before Christmas, with all residents being re-located to different homes across the borough in time for the festive period.
Coun Jenny Platts, cabinet spokesperson for place health and adult social care, told the Chronicle: “In Barnsley, we want to make sure everyone has the best possible chance of enjoying life in good physical and mental health.
“Following a number of breaches around health and safety and after working closely with the provider in recent months to try and improve the situation, we decided to terminate our contract with Rockley Dene Care Home.
“Closing a care home is not an easy decision, but as part of our duties under the Care Act, we must make sure that people are supported in a safe environment.
“We therefore felt this decision would be the best way to achieve this.
“We worked with residents and their families to relocate them to different care homes and we’re focused on helping them settle into their new homes.
“We would like to thank the staff at Rockley Dene who worked with us and continued to support residents right up until the day of their moves helping to achieve all of this before Christmas - their dedication was remarkable.
“We will continue to work with staff to help them find other rewarding roles in the sector.”
In a 2018 inspection, the CQC placed the care home into special measures and the report said: “At this inspection we found people were unlawfully deprived of their liberty and consent and capacity was not consistently recorded.
“Individual risks to people had not been properly assessed and fire safety was not effectively managed.
“The storage and records relating to the management of medicines were not safe.
“There were insufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff deployed to meet people’s needs effectively.
“Staff had not received appropriate induction support, training, supervision and appraisal as is necessary to enable them to carry out the duties they are employed to perform.”
Inspections did improve slightly but they were still rated ‘inadequate’ upon its closure.
Coun Jake Lodge, who represents the Worsbrough ward, added: “I was extremely disappointed to hear of the closure of Rockley Dene, particularly so close to Christmas, however, I have no doubt that this was done by the relevant authorities in the best interests of residents.
“I have kept in touch with lead officers over that time, in order to ensure that residents have had a planned move to alternative accommodation and that staff who worked at the care home, received the relevant support and guidance for new employment.
“I’d encourage anyone to contact me directly if they have any issues or concerns.’’
The Chronicle tried to contact the care home for a comment but did not receive a response.
