Oakhurst Lodge told it must improve after CQC inspection
A CARE home in Ashurst has been told it must improve after Care Quality Commission inspectors raised concerns over resident abuse and risk management.
Oakhurst Lodge in Lyndhurst Road, run by Cygnet Care Services Ltd, was rated as “requires improvement” overall following a two-day inspection in May.
Inspectors said the home’s effectivness and leadership must get better, and that its safety measures are “inadequate”. In terms of being caring and responsive, the home was rated good.
The report noted the facility currently houses seven adults with autism and learning disabilties, but has the capacity for eight.
Inspectors wrote: “More needed to be done to ensure people were consistently supported to have a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life that included achieving aspirations and goals, and having regular access to meaningful activities.
“Whilst the service had planned for when people experienced periods of distress, the plans lacked completeness and in some cases contained inaccuracies.”
They added: “Managers had not always ensured risks faced by people had been assessed and planned for. The risks posed to people due to the complex needs of their peers had not been adequately assessed and planned for. Concerns were raised that leaders had not always responded appropriately to concerns about abuse.
“Whilst people largely seemed to be at ease and relaxed with one another, three staff raised concerns with us that due to the current mix of people living at the service, some people were experiencing periods of verbal and sometimes physical abuse from a peer who was living with complex needs.
“Not all of these incidents had been escalated to either the local authority or to the Care Quality Commission.”
Inspectors said they found “several breaches” of health and social care regulations regarding person-centred care, consent, safeguarding from abuse, good governance and staffing.
The report said: “The care and treatment had not always been designed to meet people's needs.
“Legal frameworks regarding consent were not consistently being followed. Systems and processes were not consistently being operated effectively to prevent abuse and to investigate immediately any allegation of abuse.
“The governance systems in place were not effective at assessing and monitoring the quality of the service. People's care was being provided by staff who did not consistently have the necessary skills to meet the needs of the people they were supporting.”
A spokesperson for Cygnet Oakhurst Lodge said: “Although we are disappointed with the outcome of the inspection at Cygnet Oakhurst Lodge, we have already begun working hard to address the issues raised.
“Putting our residents first remains at the heart of what we do and we will always strive to provide the very highest standards of care and safety.
“Alongside recognising the kind and caring culture at Cygnet Oakhurst Lodge, CQC inspectors also noted the robust action plan which we have in place.
“A number of improvements have already been made including updating our safeguarding procedures and providing further guidance, training and support to staff on safety intervention and the recording and management of incidents.”
The spokesperson added: “We have refurbished and redecorated areas throughout the service to ensure the people we support feel comfortable in their surroundings and are committed to making continual improvements in the home.
“We are here to support all people in our care to fulfil their potential and provide an environment which empowers and enables our staff to provide the highest standards of compassionate care and support. We look forward to demonstrating the improvements we have made at the next inspection.”