Pontefract care home residents left with unbrushed teeth - report

Roop Cottage care home in Pontefract provides space for up to 35 residents

A West Yorkshire care home has been placed into special measures after it was rated as "inadequate".

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected Roop Cottage, Pontefract, in late 2023 after concerns about the wellbeing of its then 23 residents.

The CQC said inspectors found "a disorganised and unsafe service" with residents "at risk of harm".

Operators SNSB Ltd insisted residents were safe, adding: "We are doing our best, there's nothing to worry about."

Sheila Grant, the CQC's deputy director of operations in the north, said staff failed to fulfil "a basic care need" of keeping all residents clean and hygienic.

"We took immediate enforcement action to ensure improvements are made so people can be cared for safely and appropriately," she said.

"We saw some people looking unkempt with dirty fingernails and mouths, and unbrushed teeth."

Inspectors said residents were not always supported to have enough to eat and drink.

'Rapid improvements expected'

"It was upsetting that some people who were unable to communicate verbally weren't having their basic needs met," Ms Grant said.

"Two people who were unable to speak with us had very dry mouths and one person was chewing their hand, which staff said was a sign they may be thirsty or hungry."

The watchdog said some concerns raised during a previous inspection in April "hadn't been acted upon".

Lessons had not been learnt in recruitment, Ms Grant added, and people were still accepted into the home "without assessing risk".

She said management had been told "rapid, widespread improvements" would be expected and the CQC "will continue to monitor the home closely".

'Top-notch care'

The home's operators said it was in the process of digitising care plans, which had led to several issues.

Zahir Faraz, of SNSB Ltd, said the inspection report was "totally inaccurate" and the home, which currently housed 19 residents, would "of course" remain open.

"The quality of care is still top-notch," he said.

"We are doing our best, there's nothing to worry about."

He continued: "Some of the issues are because of the transition we are going through but we are working towards solving them.

"We are taking all measures to make sure our residents are safe and happy."