Home rated inadequate after whistleblower claims

Residents at a Nottinghamshire care home had to endure the smell of urine-soaked bedding and bang on tables for attention, an inspection has found.

Stoneyford Care Home in Sutton-in-Ashfield has been rated inadequate and placed into special measures by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The inspection was carried out after concerns were raised by a whistleblower regarding staffing and the quality of care being provided.

The CQC also said it found some people were scared over safety issues but not reporting it due to concern over "negative repercussions".

Stoneyford is listed on its website as a purpose-built care home with 51 beds offering residential and residential dementia care.

During the inspection in July, there were 28 residents.

Following this visit, the home was rated inadequate in the categories of safe, effective, responsive, caring and well led. It had previously been rated as good overall.

The CQC said the home was not well managed, resulting in "people being placed at risk of harm and not receiving proper care".

A lack of oversight in communal areas led to residents having to shout or bang on tables for attention, the report added, with inspectors stating there was at least one case of a person having to wait for help to the toilet.

Steven Paisley, CQC interim deputy director of operations in the Midlands, said: "Some people felt scared due to safety issues but were fearful of negative repercussions if they voiced their concerns, which is really concerning in a place they call home where they should be happy, safe and comfortable.

“Staff weren’t carrying out basic hygiene and infection control tasks, which placed people at risk as well as making the home an unpleasant place to spend time due to strong odours from things like urine-soaked bedding in a bedroom."

Inspectors found staff were not knowledgeable about people’s identified risks or appropriate use of restraint.

They also noted processes and care plans in place did not accurately identify risks to people or reflect people’s wishes.

However, the CQC said leaders acknowledged the highlighted problems and took immediate action to rectify them.

A spokesperson for Serene Care, which operates the home, confirmed the home's manager had been replaced just days before the inspection.

"While we acknowledge the serious nature of the CQC's findings, we want to assure our residents, their families, and the community that we are committed to providing the highest standard of care," they added.

"We continue to invest in our people, our processes, and our physical environment to create a safe, supportive, and dignified environment for all residents."

Special measures means the home will be kept under close review to check sufficient improvements have been made, the CQC said.

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