Residents at care home 'not safe from neglect'

An inspection has found that residents at a Shropshire care home were not consistently protected from neglect and were put at risk of being injured or catching infections.

Danesford Grange Care Home, in Bridgnorth, is run by MGC Care Limited, and provides accommodation for elderly people requiring nursing care, older adults and those with a diagnosis of dementia.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited the site in June and downgraded its overall rating from good to inadequate.

The CQC said it had begun to take regulatory action, after the service was found to be in breach of four regulations. The BBC has contacted MGC Care for comment.

As well as the overall downgrade, the CQC also downgraded ratings for safe, effective and responsive to inadequate.

The rating for well-led was downgraded from requires improvement to inadequate, while the rating for caring fell from good to requires improvement.

The assessment found that risks were not consistently reviewed or managed, with people experiencing "repeated falls, pressure ulcers and deteriorating health conditions", but risk assessments and care plans were not updated to reflect the risks or guidance on how to manage them.

One person suffered 11 falls within a one month period.

"People were not consistently protected from neglect", the report said.

Evidence was found that people had not received personal care, including some who had not been showered for extended periods without explanation, review or documented agreement.

Nutritional support was not always delivered as planned, including prescribed supplements and preferred food options.

Errors were made in medication records, which led to incorrect or missed dosages.

Proof could not be found that the equipment and environment were consistently cleaned, which put people at risk of infection, the report read.

Maintenance issues and other hazards went "unchecked", including damaged flooring, broken thermometers in bathrooms, ripped furniture, cluttered communal areas and a broken fish tank.

The inspection noted that staff had been recruited safely and this included checks, references and employment history.

There were enough staff to meet people's needs, however staff deployment around the service was "not effective".

People told inspectors that staff were kind and caring, and they observed staff speaking to residents in a respectful manner, responding with patience and compassion.

However, it said, positive staff values were "undermined by weak governance" systems, ineffective leadership and "a failure to sustain improvements".

A "culture where challenge and feedback were not consistently listened to and no meaningful action taken" was observed, inspectors added.

An action plan was submitted following concerns in the initial inspection, but it was found that many of the same issues remained at a follow-up inspection.

This included poor end-of-life care planning - inspectors said people living with advanced illnesses and deteriorating health conditions had no end-of-life care plans in place.

The firm which runs the home can appeal the regulatory action being taken by the CQC.

"It's always a last resort for CQC to take action, but people using services should receive safe, effective and high-quality care that meets their needs," said Amanda Lyndon, CQC deputy director of adult social care in the Midlands.

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.