A \u00a315 million care home which opened last year has been placed in special measures to \u201cprotect\u201d residents.<\/p>\n
Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found six breaches of regulations at Whitstable House, located off the Thanet Way.<\/p>\n
Whitstable House in Boorman Way. Picture: Graham Care<\/p>\n
These included residents, who suffer from dementia and physical disabilities, facing significant delays in receiving basic care. One had to wait until after 11am to be seen despite being left in the same incontinence pad throughout the night.<\/p>\n
Staff were unable to explain these delays when asked and were found to be poorly managing patients’ medicine.<\/p>\n
One resident with Parkinson\u2019s disease told inspectors their medication was regularly late depending on which staff were working. This made them shakier and increased their risk of falls.<\/p>\n
The care watchdog says there were also numerous examples where injuries were not properly reported or investigated at the Boorman Way site.<\/p>\n
This included one case where staff failed to document a resident suffering significant bruising during blood pressure monitoring or take steps to prevent it from happening again.<\/p>\n
Whitstable House has been rated \u2018inadequate\u2019 by the CQC. Picture: Graham Care<\/p>\n
Other issues included the service relying heavily on temporary staff and there being no effective system for residents to give feedback about their care.<\/p>\n
Inspectors found breaches of regulations relating to how the service was being managed, staffing, safe care, people\u2019s dignity and safeguarding.<\/p>\n
It has led to the CQC rating the care home as ‘inadequate’ overall following the inspection in November.<\/p>\n
It was given the same rating for effectiveness, care and how it was led, while ‘requires improvement’ scores were applied to safety and responsiveness.<\/p>\n
The CQC says inspection means the care home has been placed into special measures \u201cto protect people\u201d and will be closely monitored to ensure people are safe while improvements are made.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Whitstable House is in Boorman Way<\/p>\n
Neil Cox, the watchdog\u2019s deputy director in the south, says issues were widespread throughout the residency.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we inspected Whitstable House, we found a service where poor leadership had created an environment where people didn\u2019t feel safe and weren\u2019t receiving care when they needed it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
“While some staff were trying their best, they lacked the training, processes and support from leaders to care for people properly.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeaders hadn\u2019t created an environment that was designed with people with dementia in mind, with no appropriate signage to help people find their way around.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Cox says inspectors saw one person with a history of aggressive behaviour going into other residents\u2019 rooms – but staff did not know where they were to check on them.<\/p>\n
Whitstable House opened in Boorman Way last year. Picture: Graham Care<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was nothing in place to stop this from happening again,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve told leaders at Whitstable House where immediate improvements must be made, and we\u2019re monitoring them closely to keep people safe while this happens.<\/p>\n
“We won\u2019t hesitate to take further action if needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The facility\u2019s owner, Graham Care, has been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n