CQC rates Bradford care home inadequate for second time

The CQC has ordered "significant improvement" at the home

A Bradford care home has been rated inadequate for a second time.

The Beeches Care Home will remain in special measures following its latest inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in December.

The CQC has ordered "significant improvement" or it could force closure.

A spokesperson for Victorguard Care Limited, which runs the care home, said they were "focused on making the improvements required as quickly as possible".

Inspectors made an unannounced return visit to the home after rating it inadequate following an inspection in April.

"It was very concerning the provider hadn't addressed our concerns raised in the previous inspection," a CQC spokesperson said.

'Too busy'

Twenty-three people were living at the home when inspectors visited.

They found the residents "weren't living in a service where they had maximum choice and control of their lives".

Inspectors saw residents "shouting out for help and looking for staff to support them, but they were too busy to help."

"This is unacceptable," a CQC spokesperson said.

"People have the right to have their basic care needs met, and not live in distress."

Low staffing levels were a problem at the home, with staff sometimes missing their breaks to make up for the shortfall.

Despite this, staff "still couldn't always meet people's needs", the CQC spokesperson added.

They did not have time to carry out "engaging activities" with residents, meaning "people were sitting for long periods of time in their bedrooms and communal areas without any meaningful interaction".

'Disappointed'

The CQC spokesperson said the home would be kept under "close review", with monthly monitoring of an action plan.

"We will visit the home again and if we don't see significant improvement, we won't hesitate to take action, even if this results in the closure of the service," they added.

A spokesperson for Victorguard Care, which runs two other homes in West Yorkshire, said they were "clearly disappointed that the CQC has rated the service inadequate".

"The CQC noted in its report that a new manager had been appointed just prior to its visit and that progress had already been made in a short period of time.

"Since the inspection took place, we have focused on making the improvements required as quickly as possible and additional support has been provided from group level to assist the team in the home as this process takes place," the spokesperson said.