Care residents at 'increased risk' of harm - CQC

Gordon Lodge Rest Home in Westgate-on-Sea has been placed in special measures by the Care Quality Commission

A Kent care home has been placed in special measures after a report found its residents were at an "increased risk of harm" after a decline in the level of care.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) watchdog asked Gordon Lodge Rest Home (GLRH) in Westgate-on-Sea to make urgent improvements after ranking it as "inadequate" in a report released on Friday.

GLRH was found to have poor management of medicines and also issues with identifying infection risks to patients, according to the report.

GLRH said while it was disappointed with the latest inspection's outcome, it accepted there were "areas where improvements are required".

The CQC added a poor workplace culture at the care home, which has space for 33 residents, affected the quality of care and led to a high staff turnover.

The inspection, which took place in September, was ordered after the home was previously told it required improvement.

CQC deputy director of operations in the south Serena Coleman said: "Staff left their jobs due to lack of support and involvement in service improvements, leading to understaffing and inconsistent care.

"People living in the home felt unable to speak up about problems.

"This created an environment where neither staff nor residents felt empowered to highlight issues that needed addressing."

The report also flagged how staff were managing patients' medicines "poorly", with records not always updated correctly or medicine not administered.

Ms Coleman said: "Staff applied one resident's pain relief patch a day late, causing potential unnecessary pain, and failed to investigate or prevent future incidents.

"We have told Gordon Lodge Rest Home where we expect to see rapid and widespread improvements and it has been placed into special measures while these changes are made.

"We will return to re-inspect the home and won't hesitate to use our regulatory powers further if people aren't receiving the care they have a right to expect."

GLRH added: "Since the assessment we have already implemented several key improvements.

"For example, we have strengthened our auditing systems so we can better demonstrate actions taken to mitigate risks, made upgrades to the building and implemented more robust systems for the management of medications.

"Most recently a new manager has been appointed who will continue with implementing our improvement plan and embedding the changes already made."