Derbyshire care home put into special measures.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Ashford Lodge Nursing Home in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, inadequate and placed it in special measures.

A focused inspection was carried out In January in response to concerns received about the management of people’s care needs, leadership, risk assessment and care planning. Inspectors looked at how safe, effective and well-led the service was.

Ashford Lodge Nursing Home provides nursing and personal care for up to 20 people, including those living with dementia.

Following the inspection, the overall care home rating has dropped from requires improvement to inadequate and the service has been placed in special measures. The service was rated inadequate for being safe, effective and well-led.

Natalie Reed, CQC’s head of adult social care inspection, said:

“We carried out an inspection of Ashford Lodge Nursing Home due to concerns received about how people were being treated. We found a service that wasn’t being effectively well-led with people’s needs not being met.

“During our visit we found that several people, most with complex nursing needs, had no care plans in place. It was even more concerning that some staff weren’t competent or fully trained and there was no information available to them about how to support these people safely.

“Staff weren’t trained in vital areas, nor did they receive any formal supervision which had a negative impact on their competency. In addition, we were not assured that safe recruitment practices were being followed as the provider didn’t always look at people’s full employment history or undertake necessary criminal checks.

“We were concerned that bedrails weren’t being used safely and saw someone with a leg trapped in one which could have caused serious injury.  Incident reporting and risk assessments were poor meaning lessons weren’t learnt to prevent this kind of event from reoccurring.

“Leaders now understand where urgent improvements must be made, and they have told us they have started to make changes. We will continue to monitor Ashford Lodge Nursing Home closely to ensure people are safe. If we are not assured people are receiving safe care, we will not hesitate to take further action.”

Inspectors found:

• People were at risk of harm due to poor infection prevention and control (IPC) practices and a complete failure to implement effective measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Risks associated with the environment were not managed safely. A fire risk assessment completed in 2021 had identified the need for multiple actions to be taken to reduce the risk of fire. The provider had not acted to address many of the areas identified which increased the risk of fire and consequent harm.
• Lessons were not always learned following incidents such as falls.
• There was a risk people may be supported by unsuitable staff and inspectors were not assured safe recruitment practices were always followed.
• Many staff did not have up to date training in key areas. For example, 12 members of staff had not had any IPC training since the start of the pandemic.
• People’s needs were not always assessed when they moved into the home and national guidance was not always followed in the provision of care.
• There was a risk people may not be supported to take their medicines safely.

The report will be published on CQC’s website.