The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent health watchdog, has confirmed that it has taken enforcement action against a care home in Plymouth in order to protect its residents.
After inspecting the Southview Residential Care Home in an unannounced visit, officers from the CQC found that it was only meeting two of the 11 required standards. A number of further inspections were carried out, and concerns raised during these visits included:
• Care and welfare needs of residents not being met
• Medication management
• Record keeping
• Unkempt residents in dirty or stained clothes
• The door to the home’s garden found barricaded off
• No hot running water in the home’s only bathroom with a bath
• Not all staff working at the home had adequate care training or the necessary checks carried out prior to taking up their positions
• Some residents not being treated with adequate dignity and respect
On the issue of the home not promoting residents’ dignity, the CQC report stated:
“While speaking to one person we had to clean their glasses as they were so dirty this person was unable to see clearly.
“We also needed to assist this person with their clothing. This person was found to be sat on a towel with their skirt raised around their waist. This did not promote this person’s dignity.”
The CQC is now working with the home, which is operated by Ashley Residential Care Limited, to rectify the problems and improve standards of care for residents.
