Human rights 'breached' at failing care home

The inspection at Elmcroft Care Home was prompted after whistle-blowers raised safety concerns

Care home residents who suffered a "high level of unexplained bruising" had their human rights breached, a damning report said.

Elmcroft Care Home, run by Abbey Healthcare near Maldon, Essex, was rated "inadequate" by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in a report released on Friday.

The inspection in May and June was prompted by whistle-blowers who raised concerns about safety and a "poor culture".

Mark Cloonan, the home's director, apologised for failings highlighted in the report and said "urgent, whole-scale" actions had been taken.

The home, in Tolleshunt Major, was caring for 46 people living with dementia, autism and physical disabilities when it was inspected.

Inspectors noted there was a "high level of unexpected bruising and skin tears" among people at the facility.

One resident had sustained multiple rib fractures in a fall, but the extent of their injuries was not noticed, the report said.

It said there were no snacks for people at risk of choking and instead, staff poured tea on a biscuit and scraped it up with a spoon.

"People did not always experience care in a way which upheld their right to privacy, freedom of movement and human rights," the inspector wrote.

During the inspection, a person told them: "I'm 87 now, so hopefully not long left."

'Frightened'

Home director Mark Cloonan said he was confident improvements would be made

Moir Gunfield told the BBC her mother, Vera, moved into Elmcroft in 2020 and needed help with her incontinence.

She said her mother was not changed often enough, with her mobile phone once going undiscovered in her nappy for hours.

"To think that nappy had been on her all day and her mobile phone was in there, it wasn’t very pleasant," Mrs Gunfield added.

Stuart Dunn, of the CQC, said officials were "deeply concerned" by what they saw at Elmcroft.

"We found one new staff member had resorted to researching dementia using social media, because managers hadn't given them training," he said.

The report added that staff morale was "extremely poor" due to an alleged blame culture and racism towards some workers.

"We are treated like the bottom of a shoe. We are frightened to report anything," one member of staff told the inspector.

Mr Cloonan said a new management team and regional director had been appointed since the inspection.

Heavy investment had been made in training, as well as creating a transparent and open leadership culture, he added.

"We are confident that, in partnership with the local authority and CQC, we have already made large-scale improvements at the home, and it remains our utmost priority to continue to do so," Mr Cloonan said.