Black Country care home put in special measures over risk of harm
A care home where people with dementia were at risk of scalding themselves with boiling water has been placed in special measures.
Newlyn Court in Bilston has been branded inadequate after an inspection by health watchdog Care Quality Commission (CQC).
But the home claims on its website that it is “purpose built to ensure compliance with CQC standards” despite failing to meet required standards in all five categories assessed.
A report said: “People were not safe and were at risk of avoidable harm.
"The effectiveness of people’s care, treatment and support did not always achieve good outcomes or was inconsistent.
"There were widespread and significant shortfalls in service leadership.
"Leaders and the culture they created did not assure the delivery of high-quality care.”
It was the fourth time the care home in Merstone Close, which supports up to 80 people, failed to achieve a rating above ‘requires improvement’.
A three-day inspection in March discovered hot water was recorded up to 49C (120.2F) in some bedrooms, despite Health and Safety Executive advice stating water should not be above 44C (111.2F) due to a risk of scalding.
Chairs blocked a corridor leading to a fire exit, as well as access to a fire extinguisher, the inspector found.
Staff were said to be “kind and caring”, as well as respectful of residents’ privacy and dignity, the report added.
Employees had also received training in their roles, while a range of activities and events had been held at the home.
The service , which will face another inspection within six months, now has a maximum of 12 months to improve or risk closure.
It was rated inadequate in the ‘safe’ and ‘well-led’ categories, and requiring improvement in ‘effective’, ‘caring’ and ‘responsive’ categories.
The home has been contacted for comment.
