Loughborough care home rated 'inadequate' following inspection

The report into Abbeyfield Loughborough was published by healthcare inspectors on 9 November

A care home in Leicestershire looking after people with dementia has been rated "inadequate" by inspectors.

Abbeyfield Loughborough in Westfield Drive has been placed in special measures following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Inspectors said they found issues with the residents' safety and incidents not being reported.

Company bosses said they were working to address "a number of the concerns".

However, the Abbeyfield Loughborough Society, which runs the care home for up to 64 people, also said it was "challenging some of the evidence provided".

'Unacceptable'

The inspectors' report said residents did not receive the support they needed to have enough to eat and drink or to maintain their wellbeing and hygiene.

People were also at risk of harm due to a lack of supervision, while staff lacked the knowledge, information and training to make sure residents were safe when they became distressed.

Craig Howarth, deputy director of operations in the midlands for the CQC, said elements of the home's care offering were "unacceptable".

He said: "When we visited Abbeyfield Loughborough it was disappointing to see such a significant shortfall of strong leadership.

"We found leaders and the culture they created didn't assure the delivery of high-quality care for people using the service."

'Crisis'

The inspectors' report added that there has been a "sexual incident between two people" at the home, but action had not be taken quickly enough to follow safeguarding procedures afterwards.

Meanwhile, the relative of a patient had not been told that their loved one had suffered a head injury due to poor practice from staff.

The care home had received a "requires improvement" rating following its previous inspection in January this year.

Abbeyfield Loughborough Society, which had appointed a new registered manager following September's inspection, said that the findings were "extremely disappointing".

A spokesperson added: "Although we are challenging some of the evidence provided, we acknowledge the broad findings of the report and accept there are several areas that require improvement.

"Some of the issues reported are due to staff shortages and the resulting pressure that puts on existing staff, a crisis currently being experienced by the entire sector on a national level."