Residents moved after unsafe nursing home is shut down

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) went in to Vicarage Court, in Chasetown, in August and subsequently placed the venue, which catered for nearly 50 people, in special measures demanding improvements be made within in six months.

But the provider Morecare took the decision to close the home on September 13, it has now been revealed.

Residents have been moved to other homes including the firm’s other nursing facility The Old Vicarage which is on the same site.

In another blow to The firm has also lost a Staffordshire County Council contract to deliver care at home and will be axing their ‘Morecare at Home’ agency at the end of the month, they stated.

The CQC had demanded improvements at Vicarage Court after their previous visit in November but standards have plummeted.

Their latest report rated the areas of safety and leadership ‘inadequate’.

Among the safety concerns raised was the lack of an action plan put in place for a resident who was found on the floor and another person who had a lump on their head which had not been properly investigated.

The report said: “The service was not safe. People did not receive their medicines as prescribed. There were no systems in place to monitor stock levels within the home. When incidents occurred we could not be sure action was taken to reduce the risk of re-occurrence.

“We could not be sure the provider took appropriate action and that people were protected from potential abuse.

“The provider did not have suitable recruitment procedures in place. People and relatives told us they felt staffing levels could be improved.”

Leadership was slammed particularly due to the lack of progress made since the last inspection.

The report said: “The service was not well led.

“The provider had not made the necessary improvements identified at the last inspection.

“There was no registered manager in post.

“The systems in place were not effective in identifying concerns and information was not used to drive improvements within the home.

“When action was needed to reduce risks it was not always taken. The provider was displaying the previous rating within the home.”

The other key areas around how effective, caring and responsive the home was were all rated ‘requires improvement’.

A spokeswoman from Morecare said: “Morecare Ltd continues to operate. The Old Vicarage remains open and is accepting new residents. Vicarage Court has closed with all residents transferred to other services, including The Old Vicarage.”

“Morecare at Home, which is our domiciliary care agency, will cease trading on 30 September 2017, as our contract with the Council has come to an end. Staff will be TUPE transferred to new providers.”