CQC finds more poorly-managed care homes
January 06, 2016
CQC finds more poorly-managed care homes
Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection visits continue to uncover many inadequate care homes.
The latest visits help to highlight why choosing good quality home care in Brighton or Worthing may be a better alternative to a local care home for your Mum or Dad.
On 1 December 2015 the CQC announced it has compiled reports on 68 care homes in the north of England http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/cqc-inspectors-publish-reports-68-adult-social-care-services-north-england and a further 59 in the south http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/cqc-inspectors-publish-reports-59-adult-social-care-services-south-england.
Among those inspected were a number that were classified as inadequate. That means the CQC will consider taking action against the provider on behalf of the residents. It’s a signal that immediate action should be taken to make improvements.
Sussex care homes need to improve
Two were in East Sussex. At one, the inspectors “continued to find people did not have their care planned and delivered in such a way as to meet their individual needs” and “people were still not protected from the risks of inadequate nutrition and hydration”. At the other, the CQC identified a “lack of appropriate employment checks” on care staff and “some concerns with the management of medicines”.
A number of the care homes visited also “required improvement” – including one in Worthing. This means a home has to provide the CQC with a full plan setting out how the issues of concern will be addressed. Inspectors will then return to check the required improvements have been made.
Worthing care home breaches regulations
At the Worthing home, there were two breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. Problems highlighted included “people’s medicines were not always managed so they received them safely” and “some aspects of the service were not well led”.
The advantages of choosing home care in the south east, rather than a residential care home, have been well-documented and researched over the past two decades. If you need help finding a provider there’s guidance available from the NHS http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/Pages/home-care.aspx and also lots of useful information on the UK Home Care Association (UKHCA) http://www.ukhca.co.uk/index.aspx website.
Ronnie Chatterton-Sim from Coastal Homecare in Worthing explains: “There’s a significant amount of evidence that shows most people prefer to receive care in their own homes – as opposed to going into a residential setting where they are in unfamiliar surroundings. Helping your parents remain in their own home where they have many memories, can also be extremely beneficial to their health and well-being. A good home care provider will regularly review the service provided to ensure they receive precisely the care and attention they need.”