Healthcare inspectors criticised two Manchester care homes and placed them under special measures last month.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) gave an ‘Inadequate’ rating to The Royal Elms Care Home on Newton Heath, and Wellfield Care Home in Baguley after uncovering a series of failings.
This means that the two care homes must address their shortcomings, or the providers may be prevented from operating the service.
Inspectors visited the Royal Elms, which provides care to 20 elderly residents, in October and described the facility as unsafe.
The care home experienced a COVID-19 outbreak at the time of inspection, and the report found staff wearing PPE incorrectly.
They also found gloves and aprons were stored carelessly across the home, increasing the risk of infection.
The report also said: “There were patches of rust on the ground floor bath which posed a risk to people’s skin integrity.
“Additionally, a patch of lino was missing on the flooring of the bathroom which posed a trip hazard and was unclean.”
The Royal Elms did not respond to our request for comment.
Wellfield care home, which provides care for two under 18-year-olds with mental health problems, was found by inspectors to be unsafe and uncaring.
The report said: “One person received a physical injury from a hospital member of staff whilst receiving treatment.
“This incident was not investigated or reported, to help safeguard the individual in future.”
Oakfield Psychological Services, the provider for Wellfield care home, responded to our request for comment and said: “Oakfield staff attended A+E with a service user.
“Regrettably, the service user became incredibly violent within the A+E department towards hospital staff (assaulting nursing team repeatedly) and public.
“She was restrained by Hospital Security staff (not Oakfield staff) which resulted in hospital security staff placing service user on the ground, where she sustained mild bruising to her head.”
The CQC report also said: “When outlining the restraint training programme they had completed, five of the six support staff we spoke with used the word ‘judo’ to describe the training.”
Oakfield Psychological Services said: “All Oakfield staff have National Recognised restraint training (MAPA training).
“We have had very productive meeting with CQC who are returning within the next few months to re-evaluate our service.
“What we are all agreed on is that the welfare of the Young People using our service has and will remain at the heart of everything we do.”
MM has approached the Royal Elms Care Home for comment.
