'Fly-infested' Little Downham care home placed in special measures

The CQC says it referred The Firs to the fire service and environmental health following its inspection

Inspectors have referred a "fly-infested" care home to the fire service and environmental health over safety concerns.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited The Firs Residential Care Home in Little Downham, Cambridgeshire, due to safeguarding, staffing and cleanliness issues.

The Firs has been rated inadequate - and placed in special measures.

A care home spokesperson insisted concerns were being addressed.

The Firs provides care for up to 29 people, including older and younger adults, people living with dementia, and those with physical disabilities.

The inspection in September found poor infection control practices, poor record keeping for accidents, inadequate staffing levels and that people were not given dignified care.

Relatives said residents were told to use a pad instead of being helped to go to the toilet, a practice that inspectors said had "become normalised" - and the home smelled strongly of urine as a result.

Inspectors noted that neither fire alarms nor pin coded doors were working, meaning people could access unsafe areas.

The CQC had been contacted with concerns about cleanliness, staffing and safeguarding

Gill Hodgson-Reilly, CQC deputy director of operations in the East of England, said: "At this inspection we found a further decline in the appearance of the home, and we were so concerned about fire risks and cleanliness, that we made referrals to the fire service, and environmental health to keep people safe.

"Leadership was poor which was behind these issues.

"We saw there had been a high turnover of managers, and it was clear they didn't have an understanding of the Health and Social Care Act, and what was expected of them to provide good accommodation and safe care to the people who called this service home.

"It was very concerning to see how dirty the kitchen was, with overflowing bins and expired food contributing to a fly infestation.

"This isn't only distressing for people living here, but also poses serious health risks."

'Restore confidence'

However, inspectors noted they saw "positive interactions" between staff and residents.

A spokesperson for The Firs said the home "deeply regrets the shortcomings identified" in the report and a "detailed action plan" was already in place.

Steps were already being taken, including "rigorous safety protocols", increasing staffing levels, a review and upgrade of facilities and improvements in governance and auditing to improve care.

The Firs had also brought in a care consultancy firm "to assist in rapidly improving our compliance and care standards", a spokesperson said.

"We assure our residents, their families, and the community that every effort is being made to address these issues and restore confidence in our services," they added.