Care home told to improve standards

A DINNINGTON care home has been given a formal warning after inspectors found a series of failings.

The Care Quality Commission has told Althorpe Health Care Ltd to make urgent improvements to standards at Athorpe Lodge - or face further action.

Inspectors made an unannounced visit to the care home on Falcon Way to follow up a previous review of compliance.

On the latest inspection, the commission found that the home was still failing to meet Government standards in relation to the safeguarding of residents and the management of medicines.

Jo Dent, regional director of CQC in the Yorkshire and Humberside region, said: “The law says that these are the standards that everyone should be able to expect. Providers have a duty to ensure that they are compliant.”

“This warning sends a clear and public message that Althorpe Health Care Limited needs to address this issue as a matter of urgency or face serious consequences.”

“Our inspectors will return to Athorpe Lodge in the near future and if we find that the provider is not making the required progress, will not hesitate to use our legal powers to protect the people who live there.”

Inspectors said that procedures for reporting safeguarding incidents were not always followed correctly, meaning that people living in the home were not being adequately protected from the risk of abuse.

They also found evidence of a failure to adhere to deprivation of liberty safeguarding protocols and noted that one resident had been deprived of liberty without the correct authorisation.

The home was also failing to protect people in the recording, handling, administration and use of medicines. Some residents’ care records did not provide the correct dosage information, meaning that some people living in the home were receiving more than the recommended amount of medication.

In addition, there was not clear procedure followed when administering medicines prescribed ‘as required’, and the protocols for giving additional medication were not clearly documented.

A spokesman for the home said: “We take all our regulatory requirements seriously and have worked tirelessly to resolve the matters highlighted by the regulators. Additional enhanced training has been provided for all staff and the home continues to be supported by senior staff until all requirements with regulators are met. We are open and transparent in all our dealings and the home is always pleased to arrange a visit to demonstrate the high standards of care we offer.”

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