Essex care home told positive employee to come to work
It's thought to have now closed
A member of staff at a care home in Essex was told to return to work despite testing positive for Covid because there was nobody else trained to administer medicines, a damning report has uncovered.
Abbey Care Home , in Clacton, was criticised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for its failure to control infection and left used masks, gloves and continence pads in a public car park.
Although the CQC found some action had been taken since it last inspected the home in November 2021, when it was also rated inadequate, it found residents there were still not safe and were at risk of avoidable harm.
It is believed the care home shut on Friday after Essex County Council terminated contracts for the care of those residents it supported.
Following the unannounced visit the CQC reported a “split staff team and a bullying closed culture”, as well as bullying behaviour by a staff member.
Inspectors said the care home, which could care for as many as 20 people aged from 18 to 65 years with mental health, learning disability, physical disability or dementia, failed to recognise this and take appropriate action following a witnessed altercation between a staff member and a person living in the home.
The CQC said: “They failed to recognise and understand the impact of the staff members’ behaviour on the person which was rude and dismissive of their needs. They did not take action to support the person or immediately address the staff members’ behaviour.”
Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures were not managed safely, the CQC added the care home, which was looking after 12 people at the time of the inspection in January 2022, did not follow or meet national Covid-19 infection control guidance.
The CQC said management at the care home did not have a contingency plan in place for a Covid-19 outbreak, there were no robust systems for the testing and monitoring for Covid-19 and measures were not in place to safely admit visiting professionals into the home.
Staff were not using or disposing of personal protective equipment (PPE) safely – aprons, gloves and masks were being disposed of throughout the service in open bins and black general waste bags.
A facility for the disposal of clinical waste (which includes used PPE) was outside in a general use dustbin not appropriate for clinical waste.
Inspectors also found a pile of disposed black general waste bags outside the home spilling out used masks, gloves and continence pads into a public care park.
Clinical waste bags were found overspilling next to a specialist bin for clinical waste. The provider did not have a regular arrangement for the collection of clinical waste, and this was not addressed until after the inspection.
The report also highlighted a failing to employ adequate numbers of staff with the right skills and competencies to provide the right level of care and meet people’s needs safely and effectively.
The report added: “The provider still did not have a contingency plan in place to help manage unforeseen staff absences such as long-term absences and resignations.
“There were no contingency arrangements in place to ensure adequate staffing during a COVID-19 infection outbreak which placed additional pressures on the small staff team.
“We were informed a senior staff member was told to return to work with a positive COVID-19 test, this was confirmed, because there was nobody else trained to administer the medicines.”
An Essex County Council spokesperson said: “Following concerns about the quality of care at Abbey Care Home and an inadequate CQC rating, Essex County Council took the decision to terminate contracts for the care of those residents we support. This enabled them move to alternative accommodation which meets the residents’ individual needs and preferences.
“We remain working very closely with the residents, families, and the providers to ensure that the moves are as seamless as possible, whilst ensuring the safety and well-being of these residents remains paramount.”
A spokesman for the home declined to respond when asked for comment.