St Lukes Care Home In Calverley Told To Provide Outline of Improvements By Mid April

By Dave Grimshaw

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has raised concerns about staffing levels at a Leeds care home, the second time the home’s owners have come under scrutiny in just over a year.

Eldercare Limited has 16 care homes across the region including St Lukes Care Home, in Calverley, which was visited by the CQC because it had concerns about the number of staff on duty and their capacity to meet people’s needs.

Inspectors have now asked Eldercare to send them a report next week explaining how they will meet standards set by the CQC.

An inspection report had pointed out that although staff levels had been increased, the number of on-duty workers was “sometimes still below the level necessary to meet people’s needs”. They also questioned a lack of respect shown by staff when speaking to people.

Inspectors said they had seen wheelchairs partially obstructing fire exits and added in the report that security door alarms were disabled meaning visitors to the home could not be monitored.

One person at the home was seen to eat a meal with their fingers because they did not receive “any support to use their cutlery”.

Eldercare Limited was also questioned last year when an inspection at Oakhaven Care Home, in Oakwood, found that the home was failing to protect the safety of elderly residents.
Residents were allowed to verbally abuse each other and one was allowed to wander in and out of others rooms. The CQC also highlighted a number of unexplained injuries had been written in care records.

Sarah Coles, a specialist medical lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office said: “We see time and time again how distressing and devastating any kind of care home abuse and neglect can cause those involved.

“Any kind of abuse can have lasting, damaging effects on a person's life and those who come forward to report experiences of abuse or neglect find it difficult to discuss their traumatic experiences.

“It is important that any concerns from the CQC are dealt with as soon as possible to ensure that the vulnerable residents are not put at risk of any harm or neglect.”

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in Elder Abuse Claims.