Care home for elderly placed in special measures

Bryony House questioned the findings saying staff were committed to high-quality care

A care home for the elderly has been placed in special measures after a watchdog found "widespread issues", including staff who failed to treat residents with respect.

Bryony House in Selly Oak, Birmingham, which looks after 26 adults including those living with dementia, has been downgraded to an inadequate rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The CQC said its inspection was carried out in part due to concerns it received after a person using the service died.

Bryony House's manager Lorraine Whittaker said in a statement staff were demoralised by the report and challenged some of the allegations made.

CQC inspectors found care had deteriorated and the service breached five legal regulations relating to safe care, safeguarding, the physical environment, management and treating people with respect.

The home has been given the lowest possible rating of inadequate for being safe and well-led, down from requires improvement.

Ratings for being effective, caring and responsive have also dropped, from good to requires improvement.

The CQC said it would now closely monitor the home to ensure residents' safety while improvements were made.

Regulatory action is also being taken to address concerns, which the home has the right to appeal.

The resident's death was not examined as part of the inspection in May, the CQC said, as it was subject to further inquiries.

'Unacceptable treatment'

CQC's deputy director for the Midlands Amanda Lyndon said widespread issues were found.

Two staff members were also seen acting "inappropriately towards a resident" during the inspector's visit, Ms Lyndon said.

"Managers didn't have an effective strategy to prevent inappropriate behaviour or take action to safeguard people when bullying, harassment or abuse happened.

"It is unacceptable that people who relied on staff to act as their advocates, in a place they called home, treated them this way."

Managers have been informed where "rapid and widespread" improvements are needed, with the CQC returning to check progress at a later date.

Bryony House Care Home has been placed in special measures

In a statement on Bryony House's website, Ms Whittaker said the report did not "fully or fairly reflect the work, dedication, and commitment of our care team" and included "a number of allegations and findings that we believe were either inaccurate or not properly investigated".

She said several points raised were not discussed with staff at the time and did not "accurately reflect the day-to-day operations or the care provided".

"Our team - many of whom have served this home and its residents with compassion and professionalism for years - feels demoralised by how their efforts have been portrayed," she added.

The home was taking steps to identify areas for "genuine improvement, while also challenging inaccuracies through the appropriate channels," Ms Whittaker said.

She said staff were committed to working with the CQC to ensure the home moved out of special measures quickly.