Inspectors slam Burnley care home over safety standards

A BURNLEY care home has been slammed in a report for the quality of its care.

A Care Quality Commission inspection at Victoria Residential Care Home, in Thursby Road, found it was failing to meet seven of 16 essential safety requirements.

Inspectors, who visited in March, found residents’ care was not always suited to their needs, they were not given help with eating meals and the home was unclean and unhygienic.

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The report said: “There were no suitable arrangements in place to achieve and maintain appropriate standards of cleanliness and hygiene, as a consequence people experienced care in an unhygienic and unclean environment.”

The incorrect handling of medications, failure to ensure patients’ safety and dignity while repairs and maintenance work were carried out at the home, unsuitable provision of equipment and a shortage of staff were also cited.

It stated: “There were less staff on duty, which had an impact on the amount of time staff could spend with people. The lack of a registered manager meant staff lacked direction to provide safe and effective care.”

The review was carried out at the home, which has the capacity to care for up to 41 residents, after concerns were raised.

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Inspectors said residents they spoke to were satisfied with the care they received but staff expressed concerns about the lack of direction since the departure of the manager and a reduction in staffing levels.

The home has since been ordered to detail action for improvement. The findings of the report have also been referred to the Environmental Health Department.

Sue McMillan, regional director for CQC in the North-West, said: “The care at Victoria Residential Care Home has fallen far short of the standards people have a right to expect. We need to ensure people living at the home are not at any immediate risk of harm.

“It is clear standards require significant further improvement so we will continue to monitor this service very closely to ensure these improvements are made and sustained.”

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