Kettering care home for adults with autism put in special measures

The rating for Alderwood care home in Cransley, Kettering, dropped from "good" to "inadequate"

A care home for adults with autism and learning disabilities has been placed under special measures after inspectors concluded that it failed to "protect people from harm or abuse".

The rating for Alderwood in Cransley, Kettering, in Northamptonshire, has dropped from "good" to "inadequate".

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said: "People were not safe and were at risk of avoidable harm."

Alderwood L.L.A. Limited was contacted for comment by the BBC.

The CQC said it visited the home in October, prompted by concerns received about management, safeguarding and staffing.

'Suitably qualified'

The home was caring for six people at the time of the inspection.

"People were not consistently supported with dignity, respect and kindness," said the author of the CQC report, published on Friday.

"The provider had failed to ensure staff were suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced."

Inspectors identified 46 incidents of a specific safeguarding nature, resulting in harm.

Not all of these had been appropriately referred to the local authority safeguarding team, the CQC said.

Another point raised by the watchdog concerned a staff member who described a person as stubborn and "acting up" if they did not "get their own way".

The CQC added: "This was not respectful of the person's rights or empathetic to their needs and experiences."

Enforcement action

The service will be kept under review by the CQC, and its registration allowing it to operate could be cancelled.

The home is due to be reinspected within six months to check for significant improvements.

Inspectors said they took additional enforcement action in relation to the home, which they would report on when legally able to do so.