Wolverhampton care home residents ‘left at risk of abuse’
A care home failed to report an allegation of inappropriate sexual behaviour – which inspectors said could have been a police matter.
St Anthony’s Care Home also failed to flag up an incident of choking and a fire to watchdog officials according to a report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The home, off Stourbridge Road in Wolverhampton, has now been put in special measures.
Inspectors visited the care home unannounced after whistleblowers informed the CQC about a safeguarding incident.
They said people were not being protected from potential abuse as incidents were not being properly reported.
Inspectors added that the care home was reporting some incidents such as some alleged abuse incidents and deaths, but the authority was not informed about an altercation between two people, a choking incident, a fire and an allegation of inappropriate sexual behaviours that inspectors ‘would consider reportable to the police’.
READ the CQC report here
The CQC officials said an incident in which a person had displayed 'inappropriate behaviours' and a serious incident had taken place.
The report said: “Staff told us the person continued to display these behaviours and there was an acceptance from staff these behaviours were acceptable.
"There was no documentation of these behaviours or when they had occurred and no risk assessment for this was in place.
"There was no guidance in place for staff to follow and staff supported the person inconsistently during this time, placing themselves and the person at risk.”
The report added: “People were not protected from potential abuse as incidents were not reported appropriately when needed.”
Another person had choked on food and staff had to perform emergency first aid. It was recorded that a referral to a speech and language therapist should be made but it had not happened.
But the inspectors did note that people received consistent care and support and were happy with the food.
People in the home were also encouraged to be independent and their privacy and dignity was promoted.
The care home can accommodate 35 people, and at the time of the inspection on September 19, 20, and 21, there were 23 people using it.
It was rated ‘inadequate’ for safety and how well-led it is, and ‘requires improvement’ in its effectiveness and how responsive it is.
A spokesperson from Leonard Cheshire, that runs the home, said: “The safety and well-being of the people we support is priority.
"We have put in place significant measures to deliver improvements at St Anthony’s, including increased senior management oversight and support from our clinical excellence team.
"Considerable progress has already been made. We will closely consider the recommendations of the CQC.”
