Medicine not managed safely at care home - report

The care home was previously rated good by the CQC following an inspection in 2022

A care home has been rated as inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after it found a number of failings including medication not being managed safely.

Handford House Care Home in Ipswich was previously rated as good by the regulator after its last full inspection in 2022.

The CQC recorded issues at the facility, which has now been placed in special measures, such as relatives discovering their family members were wearing other people's clothes.

The company that ran the care home said a new manager was appointed after the most recent inspection in July.

Whistleblowers

The CQC found that staff did not always involve families in the planning of care.

Inspectors also recorded that residents were being served food and drink from containers that were not being cleaned regularly.

The regulator said it visited the facility "in part due to whistleblowers and health professionals contacting CQC with concerns about end-of-life care, staffing levels, hygiene practices, and the overall safety and quality of people's care in the home".

The CQC said special measures meant the home "will be kept under review and closely monitored to ensure people are kept safe".

Hazel Roberts, the CQC deputy director of operations in the East of England, said: "We were concerned to find people at Handford House weren't always getting safe, person-centred, and compassionate care.

"This was because there weren't enough staff with the right training to meet people's needs.

"Leaders had also failed to act on problems quickly to protect people.

"There weren't enough staff to care for people properly, and people living at the home and their family told us they'd waited up to half an hour for staff to answer call bells on multiple occasions."

Suffolk County Council said it had stopped sending people to the home for the time being.

A spokesperson said it took safety and wellbeing of residents "seriously" and added: "This suspension remains in place whilst we, along with the CQC, continue to work with the provider to help them make the necessary improvements to their service."

'High standards'

Healthcare Homes, which ran the facility, claimed that the CQC provided "verbal assurances" that it had no "serious concerns" following the three-day inspection.

It said it was not until 2 October that the CQC formally raised the concerns.

"Notwithstanding the improvements we have already made, we continue to work closely with [Suffolk County Council] and we would welcome an early reinspection of the service by the CQC," a spokesperson said.

"Nothing is more important to us than the care and wellbeing of all of our residents and staff.

"The company is committed to supporting the home which is already returning to its usual high standards."