A care home in Greater Manchester has slipped from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘inadequate’ within six months after an inspection in October by the Care Quality Commission.
Kenyon Lodge in Little Hulton, Salford, was found to breach eight safety regulations, including failing to meet ‘nutritional and hydration needs’ and ‘safe care and treatment’.
The CQC report, released on January 12, uncovered that staff were lacking in the required training for their roles to care for patients.
A patient told the inspector: “Some staff are good at their job but there are others who don’t have a clue. It might be because of training but I think sometimes it’s because of their attitude.
“They have a ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude to their work, but the good ones are really good and think of things I might need.”
Staff at Kenyon Lodge told inspectors they had received some additional training since the last inspection in May 2015 – however it was to be completed in their own time through online e-learning.
Two members of staff informed them they did not have access to a computer at home and therefore had not completed any necessary up-to-date e-learning.
Providing care for up to 60 people, a significant number of patients have multiple complex needs including living with advanced levels of dementia, disability and/or sensory impairment, and requiring additional support with nutrition and hydration.
Of the 38 staff members the report found that 26% of staff had completed diet and nutrition training, 45% completed equality and diversity training, and just 3% of staff had completed dementia training.
The report said: “Two members employed as ‘senior care assistants’ did not have any care related qualifications such as NVQ level two or three.
“One member of staff who had been employed by the service for three months as a care assistant, had not received any moving and handling training throughout this period of time.”
A staff member told the inspector: “I’m expected to do these supervision sessions because I’m senior but I’ve not had any training in how to carry them out and we’re never given enough time to do them properly anyway.”
And another said about their training: “It’s a tick box exercise because CQC told them to do it. Simple as that.”
Three individual cases the report highlighted included a patient who was being treated for symptoms of dehydration.
The inspector found that this person’s record indicated a poor fluid intake of 300mls over the preceding seven days.
The report said: “The service had failed to recognise and respond to clinical features that would indicate a condition likely to deteriorate.
“The service failed to carry out a proper nurse-led assessment in order to determine the most appropriate level of care and failed to make an early referral for treatment.”
The second case involved a breach of ‘safe care and treatment’, after the inspector witnessed one person not being treated in a caring or dignified manner.
The report said: “This person was observed to be leaving a toilet in a state of partial undress and it was evident they had not been able to fully tend to their own personal care needs.
“We then observed a member of care staff approach this person and simply pull up their clothing in a public space without first tending to their personal care needs in private.”
The underwear of a ‘confused’ person being hoisted onto a wheelchair was exposed as two care assistants were talking between themselves having ‘minimal interaction with the person whilst the hoist sling was being fitted’, was another case witnessed during the inspection.
Furthermore the report said the care home: “Lacked insight into the importance of nutritional action plans and did not understand how they should be implemented.”
The report stated they will take action and prevent the provider from operating the service if insufficient improvements are made.
The service will be kept under review and they will cancel their registration or vary the terms of their registration within six months if they do not improve.
MM contacted Kenyon Lodge for comment and they said: “Abbey Healthcare is committed to provide high quality care and the needs of our residents are paramount to us.
“Following the inspection from CQC in early October 2015, we have a new management team in place who are working in an open and transparent way, to an action plan which is shared with stakeholders.
“The home continues to care for residents in an environment that meets acceptable standards. The home is under the same ownership as it was when it opened in 1993.”
Image courtesy of Google Maps, with thanks.
