Care home where bedding set on fire in special measures after surprise inspection
A care home where a resident set their bedding on fire has been rated inadequate after inspectors were alerted to concerns for people's safety.
Selborne Mews in Smethwick had previously been rated as "good" but is now in special measures after an unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission in May.
Inspectors said the service operated by Selborne Care Ltd was not safe, was not always caring and was not well led.
The home has since said that staff and management have been working hard to address the concerns and that the "welfare and care of people who use our services continues to be our top priority".
Selborne Mews accommodates up to 20 adults under the age of 65 with learning disabilities, some of whom have complex support needs.
At the time of inspection 13 people were living at the care home.
Inspectors rated the home as "inadequate" for safety and leadership and the slightly better "requires improvement" for its care.
Risk-management was highlighted as a concern by inspectors after an incident where a user set alight bedding in their bedroom with their own lighter, despite care records stating the lighter should be held by staff.
Hygiene levels were also flagged, with "thick dust and dirt" discovered behind the sofa in the lounge area along with "food debris and staining".
A shower was described as "heavily soiled" with staining on the bath mat while a bedroom chair had food and dirt and was "heavily worn".
A floor bean bag and a carpet were also described as "soiled", with pillows in use on the bed as "stained and worn".
Inspectors recorded another flat with a dirty wall and holes which had been filled with tissue paper.
During the inspection, officials noted an individual who had a risk of eating non-food items due to a health condition.
However a lock on a cupboard was broken despite the items inside needing to be locked away according to a risk assessment, the back of a chair was ripped leaving exposed foam and a container with hand gel was left unsecured.
No action had been taken to secure or remove these items.
The report also noted a lack of privacy for residents, including some staff members "not [knocking the user’s] flat door or announce their arrival."
CQC noted staff worked well as a team but some staff members were concerned.
One staff member told the inspectors: "There is a different atmosphere in the home depending on which team are working."
As a result of their findings, CQC issued a warning notice and a notice of proposal to refuse (NOP).
A spokesman for Selborne Mews said: "Selborne Care acknowledges the findings of a recently published CQC report following an inspection of Selborne Mews, which provides accommodation for persons with learning disabilities or mental health conditions requiring nursing or personal care.
"Since the inspection in May 2021, staff and management have been working with pace to address the areas of concern identified during the inspection by CQC.
"The immediate concerns raised relating to infection control and environmental improvements were addressed immediately.
"A detailed review of the care and support provided to people who use the service an in-depth review of management oversight, risk-assessment and reporting of incidents has taken place and progress continues.
"The welfare and care of people who use our services continues to be our top priority and we take these responsibilities seriously.
"We acknowledge that further work must continue to ensure this service returns to our usual standards of operating delivery.
"Selborne Care is committed to working with the CQC, local authority and other partners to complete these remaining improvements as soon as possible."
