Care home downgraded to inadequate over failings

Roberttown Care Home in Liversedge has been placed in special measures

A care home has been placed in special measures after its rating was downgraded from good to inadequate.

Roberttown Care Home, in Liversedge, failed to treat its residents with "kindness, empathy and compassion", the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said.

Inspectors, who visited the home in June, said there was an "over-reliance" on agency staff and that residents were often "bored and isolated".

Advinia Care Homes, which runs the facility, said it acknowledged the CQC's findings but claimed issues in the social care sector was leaving providers under "utterly unsustainable" pressure.

Another care home run by Advinia, West Ridings in Wakefield, was also placed in special measures earlier this week.

In their report on Roberttown Care Home, the CQC said its inspection had been triggered by concerns about the home which had been raised "anonymously".

The report said: "While some staff demonstrated kind and respectful engagement with individuals and their visiting relatives, this was not consistent across the workforce.

"Not all staff delivered care in a manner that upheld people's dignity, promoted independence, or ensured their safety."

The CQC added the "relatives and some people living at the home told us they felt their concerns were not always taken seriously or responded to quickly".

The report added: "One relative told us they had raised several complaints regarding the quality of the care provided to their loved one, stating the care was 'not good enough' but had not received any resolution to the complaints made."

Inspectors did highlight areas of good practice at the home, including its infection control measures.

But the watchdog said the home needed to make "rapid and continued improvements" to its service.

A spokesperson for Advinia said: "The safety and wellbeing of our residents is our highest priority.

"We acknowledge the CQC's findings and have already implemented a robust action plan to address the issues raised."

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