A Liverpool care home could be prevented from operating after failing to make significant improvements requested by care officials.
Rowan Garth Care Home on Lower Breck Road, Anfield, which is in special measures already, has breached Care Quality Commission regulations for the third consecutive time according to a report released by the health and social care regulator. As a result, the CQC has issued the home, operated by Bloomcare Ltd part of Wellington Healthcare (Adern Ltd), that should changes not be made in the next six months, it will take enforcement action which could lead to the home being prevented from operating.
A spokesperson for the home has apologised for the latest documented failings following an inspection in September. The CQC report said overall the service was inadequate for the 95 people receiving care.
READ MORE: First picture of police officer charged with attempted murder of woman in hotel
People were described as being at “at risk of harm” and staff did not always effectively safeguard service users. The report said: “Accidents and incidents were not effectively managed to prevent further incidents and lessons were not always learnt.”
People were described as being placed at an increased risk of abuse as processes to prevent occurrences were not always followed. Multiple safeguarding incidents had not been referred to Liverpool Council for investigation to ensure people were protected either.
Leadership of the service also came in for fierce criticism, with CQC officials recording that the manager and provider “failed to carry out their regulatory responsibilities.” The report said: “Quality assurance processes were ineffective. During the inspection the senior management team and nominated individual ensured immediate actions were taken to mitigate the failures highlighted in this report.
“However, we are not yet assured that these actions are effective or embedded to ensure that the quality and safety of the service is consistently monitored and improved to keep people safe.”
Last year, covid-19 prevention measures were highlighted as being well below standard at Rowan Garth, with the highest numbers of covid-related deaths in the city being recorded at the home. September’s inspection was prompted in part by notification of an incident following which a person using the service was a victim of alleged abuse.
It was said the incident is subject to further investigation by CQC as to whether any regulatory action should be taken. The commission will keep the service under review, and should it not propose to cancel the provider’s registration, will inspect again in six months to check for significant improvements.
If enough improvement has not been made within this timeframe and there is still a rating of inadequate for any key question or overall rating, officials will take action. A spokesperson for Bloomcare Ltd, part of Wellington Healthcare (Adern Ltd), said: “We acknowledge that there were areas where we need to make sustained improvements on, and we took immediate action and have a comprehensive action plan to address this.
“We have already implemented many of the improvements recommended in the report. The incident referred to was an isolated incident and full disclosure was given to the relevant authorities at the time and appropriate action was taken immediately.
“We are sorry to our residents and families that we fell short of expectations. We are relentlessly focused on improving and we will continue to work closely with the CQC and the local authority and external stakeholders to ensure that we can get care right for every resident.
“Like all good quality and responsible care providers, we strive to improve all the time and we will continue to do so.”
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
Jennifer Ellison shows off slim figure but fans are distracted
First picture of police officer charged with attempted murder of woman in hotel
'Kind and loving' mum died while working at The Range
Police vehicle responding to emergency call crashes into car at busy junction
Concerns grow for missing woman, 26, last seen at train station
