Four care homes in Kingston have failed to meet the five key standards in keeping people safe, industry standards checks have revealed.
The homes for elderly people and adults with learning disabilities failed to meet more than three of the five standards in Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections which took place over the last 12 months.
Individuals privacy and dignity are not being upheld, consent not being given before examinations and specific nutritional needs for cultural and religious reasons were all listed as areas of concern.
A CQC spokesperson said: “The essential government standards set out the quality of care and treatment that all of us should be able to expect, and are at the heart of how CQC regulates. Everyone should be able to expect to receive care and treatment that meets those standards. Not meeting the standards means that people are not receiving the level of care or treatment that everyone is entitled to by law.”
Beaufort Lodge, Lingfield Avenue and Kingston Care Home are among those who scored the worst in the CQC inspections.
Anne Bren, Business Manager of Age Concern Kingston said: “Vulnerable people in institutions are entitled to expect a decent standard of care, but their voices often go unheard.”
Lingfield Avenue, inspected in July 2011, failed on four of the standards. During the inspection, a ‘potentially abusive effect of poor practice on people’ was found, however no more details were given.
Resident’s wishes about their care were also not taken into account in the way they were looked after.
An inspection of Beaufort Lodge in August 2011 found not all workers ‘sit and appropriately assist people who require help eating and drinking.’ The inspection report also concluded that the home ‘does not have appropriate sluicing facilities to ensure foul and soiled laundry is thoroughly cleaned’.
CHD Living, who run Beaufort Lodge, said: “The major concern in cleanliness and infection control, was that the home did not have a sluice machine. A new sluice machine was installed immediately following the inspection and carpets have been replaced. An Action Plan was provided to CQC within timescales set outlining appropriate actions taken by CHD Living which ensured that the improvements highlighted where addressed.”
The report on Kingston Care Home has revealed that eight people on the first floor of the home had not received their medication for two consecutive days. The home stated this was due having no supply of the medication.
Improvements have been requested at this home to ensure that residents receive their medication as prescribed and in a safe manner.
One home run by Mencap, for adults with learning disabilities, whilst it passed four standards, failed the fifth of caring for people safely and protecting them from harm. Inspected on 23 June 2011, the report states ‘staff are trained in the administration of medication and ensure this is given safely. However there is no evidence to demonstrate that medicines are stored correctly’.
The inspection found that the medication cupboard was not locked, as it should be, and that the humidity and temperature of the room could affect the medication.
Despite these failing, none of the care homes in Kingston were found to have physically abused residents.
There are 187 care homes with five miles of Kingston-upon-Thames that are inspected by the CQC.
