Bexhill care home rated '˜inadequate' by CQC

Highbeech, in Dorset Road, was given the lowest score by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following three visits by inspectors in April 2016.

The home offers care for up to 27 people with dementia.

The CQC’s report, published this week, said: “Peoples’ risk assessments were not all up to date and some had insufficient information and guidance to keep people safe. For example, three people’s care plans were identified by the CQC as needing immediate action to ensure their health and safety.

“Specific health risks such as epilepsy and diabetes were not identified clearly in care plans. Accidents and incidents had not always been documented when they occurred and there was a lack of follow-up or actions taken.”

Highbeech was also criticised by CQC inspectors over its cleanliness.

The report added: “The home was not consistently clean throughout and there were strong odours of urine in some rooms. We saw some badly stained carpets in people’s rooms. We were told that it had been an incontinence accident and the maintenance person was responsible for cleaning the carpets. However, we were not assured these had been identified as there was no record in the maintenance reporting book. We also saw carpets and walls in corridors were stained and grubby, the upholstery on dining chairs and lounge chairs were stained and some sticky. The staff room/office was dirty and smelt strongly of cat food and soiled litter trays. This impacted on the homeliness and comfort of the home and was a cross infection risk to the people who lived there.”

The home will be inspected again within six months.

A statement from Galleon Care Homes Ltd, part of Titleworth Healthcare which runs Highbeech, said: “The safety, well-being and comfort of our residents is at the heart of everything we do. We are therefore constantly working to maintain our standards of excellence as part of our Quality Assurance Procedures and we are addressing the concerns highlighted in the Care Quality Commission’s report. Our company has been providing the highest standards of quality nursing and residential care for more than 35 years and is one of the most respected care providers in the UK.”

To read the full report click here.

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