Care home placed in special measures by inspectors

Special measures means the service will be closely monitored while improvements are being made

A care home in Kent has been placed into special measures after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had found the service had deteriorated since its last inspection.

Blossoms Care Home Ltd in Greenhithe, run by a provider with the same name, has been rated as inadequate after a January inspection uncovered a number of serious issues.

Inspectors found an example of staff did not always treat people with dignity and had failed to seek medical advice for a resident who had been constipated for seven days, as well as inaccurate temperature records, blank risk assessments, and various pieces of damaged equipment.

The provider has been contacted for comment.

Immediately after the inspection the CQC said it suspended the service's rating on its website, ensuring anyone looking for information would see an up-to-date reflection on the care being provided.

Staff left 'directionless'

Serena Coleman, the CQC's deputy director of operations in the south, said it was "disappointing".

"Poor leadership had left staff directionless and unable to provide safe, effective, person-centred support," she said.

"It was extremely worrying that without consistent leadership, staff weren't able to protect people from the risk of harm, as they didn't have good guidance to refer to when supporting residents. This was particularly concerning due to the seriousness of some of those risks."

Alongside the facility's overall rating declining from requires improvement, inspectors found the service to be in breach of five regulations.

Some were unchanged from the previous inspection - including in relation to safe care and how the service was being managed - but the CQC found additional issues around staffing, safeguarding and person-centred care.

Ms Coleman added that, at the time of inspection, a newly-employed manager had been trying to make improvements but it was too early to assess their impact.

While staff didn't always treat people with dignity, inspectors did find examples of effective techniques being used to comfort people when they were anxious and upset.

The CQC has also begun the process of taking further regulatory action which the provider has the right to appeal.