Care home placed in special measures

A care home has been rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and placed in special measures.

The regulator said leaders at The Rowans Care Home in Kirk Ella ignored safety concerns and staff lacked understanding on how to support people with dementia.

It said it was "totally unacceptable" that, during a visit by inspectors, a resident was left in bed until lunchtime as there was no staff available to help them get up.

A spokesperson for the care home acknowledged some of the shortcomings identified but said they were "historic" and the service had since "undergone a decisive and far-reaching transformation".

The CQC said it placed the home, run by National Care Consortium Limited, in special measures "to protect people".

It provides care for up to 53 adults, including those living with dementia or mental health conditions.

The inspection was carried out in February and March in response to concerns the regulator received about the standard of care at the home.

The CQC said it found five breaches of regulation in relation to providing safe care and treatment, people's dignity, safeguarding, staffing and governance.

The home's overall rating was reduced from good to inadequate, as were the ratings for being safe and well led.

The ratings for being effective, caring and responsive dropped from good to requires improvement.

Linda Hirst, CQC deputy director of operations in the north, said: "We have told leaders where we expect to see rapid improvements and we will continue to monitor the service closely to keep people safe during this time.

"We have also begun the process of taking regulatory action which The Rowans Care Home has the right to appeal."

A spokesperson for the home said: "Since the CQC's inspection, two months ago, we have worked tirelessly to review all aspects of our service and commence remedial work.

Crucially, this includes a change in leadership at both home and regional level."

The spokesperson said the home had implemented a "comprehensive improvement action plan".

"We now invite the CQC to conduct a new inspection that reflects the current position - not one that is historical in nature and not representative of the position the Home is now in," they said.

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