A ‘VISIBLY dirty’ care home has been plunged into a watchdog’s worst-performing category in order to protect residents and force immediate change - after inspectors found a catalogue of errors relating to dementia sufferers.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated Hunningley Grange inadequate and placed the home into special measures following an inspection last month.
The home, on Doncaster Road in Stairfoot, provides personal care to older adults, some of whom are living with dementia.
This inspection was carried out to follow up on concerns raised at the previous inspection.
Following the most recent visit, the overall rating for the home have moved down from requires improvement to inadequate.
Its rating 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.
Two warning notices following the inspection to focus the provider’s attention on making significant improvements around safe care and treatment and notifying CQC of incidents.
Alan Stephenson, interim deputy director of operations in the north for the CQC, said: “When we inspected Hunningley Grange concerns we raised around people’s safety, at our previous inspection, still hadn’t been addressed.
“It was also worrying that we found further issues regarding staffing, risk management and the home’s environment.
“A new manager was in post and working on improvements, but it was too early to see any real progress.
“It was disappointing to see little engagement or conservation between staff and people.
“The home’s leaders didn’t provide stimulation, activities and community engagement to aid people’s wellbeing and give them a sense of purpose.”
‘Rapid’ improvements must now be made, according to the CQC - or the home could face further restrictions which could even result in its closure.
“Whilst staff worked hard and treated people with kindness, this lack of time also meant some people looked unkempt, needed a shave and nail care, and wore stained clothing which is unacceptable,” Mr Stephenson added.
“The home environment was visibly dirty which placed people at risk of infection and some areas were cold and smelled unpleasant.
“It also wasn’t always safe - for example, leaders hadn’t arranged for wardrobes to be secured to walls in people’s bedrooms which could cause an injury.
“It was positive, however, that staff felt improvements were underway to make the service a better and safer place for people to live.
“Many said they felt happier and less stressed now concerns were being addressed.
“We have told leaders where we expect to see rapid and continued improvements and 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 use our regulatory powers further if people aren’t receiving the care they have a right to expect.”
A spokesperson from Hunningley Grange declined to comment when contacted by the Chronicle.
