Long Meadow: Matlock care home resident went six days without a shower

Inspectors at the Care Quality Commission carried out an inspection at Long Meadow care home in October

A care home resident went without a shower for "five or six days" while another did not have the correct bed for eight months, a report has found.

Long Meadow care home in Matlock, Derbyshire, was branded "inadequate" by inspectors at the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

A report said cleaning tasks were not always completed and carers had to cover for a lack of cleaners.

A spokesperson for the home said they had made improvements.

The CQC scored the home's management and safety "inadequate", the lowest of four ratings, while it effectiveness was given the second-lowest rating of "requires improvement".

There were also "widespread and significant shortfalls" in leadership, inspectors said.

But the report said the care home was caring and responsive, labelling these areas "good".

'Struggled to provide safe care'

CQC inspectors said they had received concerns in relation to people's safety, the way equipment was being used, staff competence, staffing levels and management of the home.

Inspectors said they found "safeguarding concerns" in people's care records that had not been referred to the council's safeguarding team, which meant actions to help protect people from abuse "had not been taken."

A resident was found to have "not had the correct bed for eight months" and care staff told inspectors they had "struggled to provide safe care to them".

CQC officials said one person's care plan stated they liked to have a daily shower but records showed this had not happened and they had gone between five or six days without one.

Cleaning not complete

The report said four residents required slide sheets to help them move safely but the manager was only able to show inspectors one slide sheet.

Staff told inspectors they "struggled" to locate a slide sheet when they needed one.

Cleaning schedules showed "tasks had not been completed". The manager confirmed this was because there "had not always been enough housekeeping staff" to complete tasks. Care staff had been required to help cover, the report said.

'Improvements made'

A spokesperson for Long Meadow care home told the BBC they take all feedback from the CQC "very seriously".

"As the report acknowledges, at the time of the inspection we had recently hired a new manager, who was working with our dedicated staff team to address the areas that were requiring improvement. Action undertaken included updating care plans and record-keeping processes.

"We are also pleased that after a significant investment of time and resource into recruitment, which has been an acute challenge at the home, we have now filled all outstanding roles, including the hiring of a new chef.

"We are confident that the CQC will recognise the improvements made when they visit the home at their next inspection."