CQC takes action to protect people at Gateshead care service
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Sister Winifred Laver Promoting Independence Centre, in Felling, Gateshead, inadequate and placed the service into special measures to protect people, following an inspection on 5 February.
Sister Winifred Laver Promoting Independence Centre, ran by Gateshead Council, provides accommodation with personal care for up to 60 people, some of whom are living with dementia.
The inspection was undertaken in response to whistle blowing concerns about poor care and unsafe medicines management from staff at the service. This was CQC’s first inspection of the service.
Following this inspection, the overall rating for the service, as well as the areas of safe and well-led are rated as inadequate. The areas of caring, responsive and effective are rated as requires improvement.
The service has been placed in special measures which 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. CQC issued a warning notice following the inspection to focus their attention on making significant improvements around the management of the service.
Victoria Marsden, CQC deputy director of operations in the north, said:
“When we visited this service, it was disappointing that ineffective leadership had led to shortfalls in the quality of care and there was a lack of action following concerns raised which placed people at risk of harm.
“People weren’t being supported by suitably trained staff. When people moved into the service, leaders didn’t do enough research to find out about their specific needs which placed staff under pressure as they aren’t trained to deal with certain complex needs.
“People at risk of falling or choking weren’t being supported safely. There were no risk assessments in place for those at risk meaning the chances of incidents or injury occurring were high.
“We were also concerned that when incidents occurred where people were injured or harmed, no action was taken to prevent reoccurrence, and they weren’t being reported to the appropriate authorities.
“Additionally, there was negative feedback in the last two staff surveys, with the recent one showing 55% of staff feeling undervalued in their roles. Staff said mistakes were often made due to them being over-stretched which placed people at risk of harm.
“We have told leaders where we expect to see rapid improvements and we will continue to monitor the home closely to keep people safe during this time. We will return to check on progress and won’t hesitate to use our regulatory powers further if people aren’t receiving the care they have a right to expect.”
Inspectors found:
• Care plans lacked detail about people’s specific needs and wishes.
• There was no continuous learning, innovation and improvement across the organisation.
• Quality assurance systems within the service were not always effective.
• The service didn’t always work effectively with external partners.
• Leaders didn’t always value or listen to their workforce.
• Support and therapy staff said teamworking was challenging, as different groups of staff had their own priorities to focus on.
• Leaders didn’t analyse incidents and accidents to identify learning to help keep people safe.
The report will be published on CQC’s website in the next few days.
Rayo Premium