'˜Inadequate' care home for people with learning disabilities put into special measures

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors reported that Woodhouse Hall delivered inconsistent care to service users, lacked enough experienced staff to keep people safe and did not give some residents the one-to-one support they were promised.

The facility, which cares for up to 19 people with learning disabilities, was found to be failing to meet five legal requirements after an unannounced inspection in December.

If it does not improve before a follow-up inspection in the next six months the health watchdog could take further action.

A report into the home’s failings also revealed that staff, who felt their management was “not effective”, were asked to sleep on a “heavily soiled smelling mattress” when stopping over and blamed their heavy workloads and inflexible rotas for a staff retention problem.

The Priory Group, which runs Woodhouse Hall, explained that it is recruiting a new general manager, has increased staff numbers and improved training as it has “worked very hard to address all the points raised”.

Inspectors found it to be “generally clean” but during their walk round found that one bed made by staff had clearly visible dried faeces on the duvet and duvet cover.

Care plans were not followed, activity plans were not implemented and menus were not in place to clarify whether people were receiving a balanced diet. Despite this some residents told CQC they felt safe and gave positive feedback about their care.

A Priory Group spokeswoman said: “Our action plan has been driven by rigorous and expert-led internal inspections, as our residents remain our highest priority.”