Surrey care home residents very isolated - report

The care home did not respond to a request for comment

A Surrey care home has been told it needs to make big improvements after inspectors found residents were "not always safe" and led "very isolated lives".

Fir Trees House, a residential home in Epsom for adults with learning disabilities, was inspected between October 2024 and July this year following concerns about the quality of care and facilities.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said the home was "not well-led" and rated it as "requiring improvement" in key areas.

Fir Trees House has been approached for comment.

Staff 'laughing'

One resident told inspectors they were happy at the home, but others described their care as "unsympathetic" and even disrespectful, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

One person told inspectors that staff had mocked them as they tried to get up the stairs.

"I thought I was going to lose consciousness, my head was spinning and they were laughing," they said.

The CQC also criticised the service for failing to learn from mistakes and at times not investigating managers over things that went wrong.

The report highlighted a lack of staff at night, meaning people's safety could not be guaranteed in an emergency.

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The CQC added that residents were not encouraged to eat meals together, socialise or take part in the local community, leaving them at risk of isolation.

However, inspectors did note some positives.

Medication was managed safely, refurbishment work had started – including installing a stair lift – and staff spoke positively about the management team.

Inspectors said the home itself needed work as kitchens and bathrooms were not always clean and some areas were in poor condition.