Safety concerns put care home in special measures

Inspectors visited Abode in Poulton-le-Fylde over concerns relating to its management and safety

A Lancashire care home has been put in special measures over "significant shortfalls with how the home was being managed".

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected Abode in Poulton-le-Fylde in April to follow up on concerns about its management and "people's safety".

The home, on Moorland Road, was found to have uneven flooring and a missing window restrictor, and someone who required a mobility aid was seen using window ledges to move around.

A spokeswoman for the home said they were "working closely" with the CQC and other professionals to improve and "meet their needs".

'See rapid improvements'

"We want to reassure families [that] no clients were harmed, or put at risk during the works required by the CQC, which have now all been completed," the spokeswoman said.

The home, which is run by Abode Healthcare Ltd, provides care for up to twenty-two people and those living with dementia.

Three notices warned it to make "significant improvements" around the safe care and treatment of residents, its management and the safety of the premises and its equipment.

Inspectors found:

• The home was not clean and infection control process were not always safe

• People were not always treated with kindness and compassion

• Staff didn't safely manage medication, including controlled drugs, and there were discrepancies in people's medicines records putting them at risk

• Staff didn't always follow infection prevention practices to keep people safe

However:

• People were generally positive about the quality of their care and said they felt safe

• They felt the staff team worked well together to ensure they received the

• care and support they needed

• Staff supported families sensitively and with compassion when a loved one died

Linda Hirst, CQC deputy director of operations in the north, said: "We have told leaders where we expect to see rapid improvements and will continue to monitor the home closely to keep people safe while this happens."