Watchdog takes action against failing care home

Care Quality Commission inspectors first visited The Amwell in December 2024

A watchdog is taking further action against a care home in Leicestershire after it failed to improve standards having been placed in special measures.

The Amwell, in Asfordby Road, Melton Mowbray, was rated as inadequate by Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors during an investigation in December 2024.

Despite being told to improve standards, inspectors found quality of care at the home had declined during a follow-up visit in June, the results of which were published in a report on Friday.

Speaking after the 2024 inspection, a spokesperson for the care home apologised to its residents, adding that it was taking action to address the issues raised.

The CQC report said the home was still in breach of regulations relating to consent to care, safe care and treatment, nutrition and hydration, and management.

As a result, it has remained in special measures.

The CQC again rated how safe and well-led the service was as inadequate.

However, inspectors said the effectiveness of the service had dropped from requires improvement to inadequate, and how caring and responsive it was dropped from good to requires improvement.

Greg Rielly, CQC deputy director of operations in the midlands, said: "We were disappointed to find that The Amwell hadn't made the improvements we told it to make at the previous inspection.

"We will continue to closely monitor the home to ensure people remain safe while this happens and have begun the process of taking further regulatory action to address the issues."

Inspectors said they found mattresses that smelled like urine

In the most recent visit, inspectors said leaders had taken some action to improve hygiene standards, such as changing old mattresses.

However, the watchdog found the home still did not meet "acceptable hygiene and cleanliness standards" after finding mattresses stained with urine that had a strong smell, a rusty shower chair, stained armchairs and faecal stains on a sling.

Some of the bedrooms also smelled strongly, inspectors said.

Mr Rielly said the body had started the process of taking further regulatory action to address its concerns over the service.

This could result in a number of actions including the home being subject to strict conditions on patient numbers or the watchdog striking it off the CQC register.

The Amwell has the right to appeal any action taken by the CQC.

Responding to the 2024 report, a spokesperson for the home said the health and wellbeing of residents was its "absolute priority" and that it took the CQC report extremely seriously.

"We would like to reassure our residents and their families that the findings of this inspection, which took place last year, are in no way reflective of the current quality of care being delivered at the home today."

The home, which looks after up to 88 residents, has been contacted for further comment.