Care home put into special measures

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) reported people living at Croft House Care Home in Gawthorpe were not treated with dignity or respect.

It said they were left for long periods of time without access to food, drink or the toilet and unable to call for assistance.

Inspectors, who visited in November, said the home’s service was not responsive, well-led, safe, effective or caring. And they found Croft House, which cares for up to 66 people, some with dementia and physical disabilities, breached 17 legal health and care requirements.

Workers said staffing levels were an “ongoing issue” and patients said they had to wait long periods of time before being attended to.

A report into the home’s failings stated: “Staff, whilst caring in their interactions, were not able to meet people’s needs as they were too busy.”

There was no registered manager at the home at the time of the inspection and inspectors said employees lacked direction. People were left bored and isolated and their dietary needs were not always met.

The report said: “People’s care plans were out of date and the information did not reflect their current needs or describe the care which was required by them or being given to them.”

Those living at the home said staff were kind and caring and they felt they were trained, knowledgeable and skilled. And inspectors said the administration, storage and disposal of medicines was safe most of the time.

But inspectors said there was “poor cleanliness” and they discovered bathing equipment was “heavily stained with faeces” in some of the bathrooms.

They also noted that people were being deprived of their liberties. The report said: “People were not supported to be independent and their independence was restricted by the practices in the service.”

The inspection was carried out after Wakefield Council, which commissions the home’s services, raised concerns about patients in its Elderly Mental Infirm unit assaulting each other. And inspectors found safeguarding incidents were not being recognised and reported.

Debbie Daniels, a manger at the home, on High Street, said: “Senior managers are supporting staff at Croft House in order to ensure that the necessary improvements are made and sustained.

“We are confident that we have made the necessary improvements and look forward to demonstrating this to the CQC at the next visit.”

If the home does not improve within six months, the health watchdog could take action to prevent it from operating.