Council-run care home "not caring" says regulator

People living at a care home run by Liverpool city council were put at risk, and more than 50 safeguarding concerns reported in just six months, it has emerged.

The long list of failures at Brushwood House in Speke were published in a damning report by the Care Quality Commission after an inspection this summer.

The home, where 39 people currently live, was rated "inadequate" in every area by the regulator which concluded, "this service is not caring".

Leader of Liverpool Council, Liam Robinson said an improvement plan was in place and he was "deeply sorry" for what had gone wrong.

The council opened Brushwood alongside another home, Millvina House in Anfield in 2019 to great fanfare - they were the first council-built care homes in the city for 25 years.

While the authority owned the building, care was provided by an external company.

Provision switched to a new company, Bloomcare, but the council took over actually running the site in July 2024 after Bloomcare stepped away.

Brushwood currently has 39 residents - some of whom are living with dementia.

CQC Inspectors found "widespread and systemic concerns" during an inspection which had been triggered by a new manager raising safeguarding concerns.

Inspectors found hygiene needs were not being met in several areas and highlighted dirty baths, toilets and kitchen equipment - with a dishwasher being reported broken for three weeks.

Staff were observed using "disrespectful and dehumanising language" which the report said "reduced people to their care needs, conditions or equipment rather than recognising them as individuals."

This included referring to people as 'The walkers', 'She's a hoist', 'He's a pureed'.

Council leader Robinson said this language was "completely unacceptable and offensive".

Agency staff told the CQC they had not read care plans, did not have access to the electronic care recording system and relied on permanent staff to obtain information and complete documentation.

Officials witnessed agency staff who were unable to identify the names of people they were supporting.

Communal areas occupied by people at risk of falls were left unsupervised for periods of up to 15 minutes and call bells were observed ringing for up to 20 minutes without response.

On one occasion, a person assessed as being at high risk of falls attempted to stand independently while no staff were present, requiring intervention from a CQC inspector to prevent potential harm.

Inspectors found the home was in breach of regulations in relation to safe care and treatment, medicine management, staffing, dignity and respect, need for consent, person centred care, nutrition and hydration, safeguarding and management of the service.

Robinson said the council would address reliance on agency staff and said whilst it was a "difficult sector to operate and recruit in", he would not "hide behind that as an excuse" for the failures.

Andrew Peck, the CQC's deputy director for adult social care in the North West, said: "We've told leaders where it must improve, and we'll continue to monitor the home closely to make sure people are kept safe while those changes happen."

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