Care home placed in special measures

Inspectors, who visited the home in January, said the Chardwood Rest Home in Eastbourne Road was inadequate as it did not do enough to ensure the safety of its residents or track the use of medicine.

The home was also criticised for failing to check if staff had criminal records or were barred from working with ‘at risk’ adults.

In a report published last Friday (April 29), the inspector said: “Medicine records and a lack of procedures identified that medicines were not always managed safely. People were at risk of not receiving the correct prescribed medicine as records were not clear or accurate.”

Inspectors also reported finding that a tablet of the heart drug Warfarin had been given to a patient on a day it should not have been.

Inspectors say this may have impacted on people’s health and well-being as medicines had not been administered as prescribed.

The CQC also raised concerns over how thoroughly the manager checked staff backgrounds – including criminal records.

The inspector said: “The provider had not taken steps to assess the possible risks of employing people with a previous police record including completing a risk assessment to ensure the safety of people in the home.”

The home has also been issued warning notices following the inspection.

Despite their wider criticism, inspectors found most residents are happy at the rest home and praised the ‘kind and supportive staff’ at the home.

One resident told inspectors: “The manager is excellent, very devoted. I hold her in great respect. I do think she runs the place well and I see her every day when she’s here.”

Another resident said: “You get kindness, care and attention, you want for nothing. If you’re in pain they do their best to ease it.”

Chardwood Rest Home has been contacted for a comment.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.sussexexpress.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Sussex-Express/

3) Follow us on Twitter @sussex_express

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Sussex Express - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.