An Investigation Into A Care Home In Staffordshire Has Found A Number Of Failings

A care home in Staffordshire has been criticised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after a number of failings were identified by inspectors.

Watford House Care Home is based in Lichfield and is registered to care for up to 43 people with a range of needs - especially for those with dementia or other degenerative conditions - but was found lacking in all benchmarks.

A lack of organisation in regards to care plans was one of the main concerns outlined by inspectors.

In one case a resident was found to have a skin condition by a visiting doctor and was told to use a special cushion when they sat down, but the CQC claimed it did not see any evidence of this being used at any point and staff were unaware that the patient needed it.

Another worrying aspect of Watford House Care Home's operations was its policy on residents' weight.

While the CQC found regular checks were taken to make sure people were not too far under or over their recommended BMI score, it was discovered that action had not been taken to manage a substantial loss of weight seen in one patient.

However, one anonymous complaint, which alleged that one person at the home had seen a rapid deterioration in their health because of poor care, was not upheld as appropriate action had been taken to refer them to a GP.

Although the home was "generally" clean and tidy throughout, the CQC found that a bird cage was "dirty and looked as if it had not been cleaned for some time", something it argued left residents at risk of developing infections.

In an attempt to improve the care residents at Watford House receive, the CQC has now instructed the home to write a report outlining the changes it will make in the coming months to meet established guidelines.

The CQC added it may take enforcement action if the report does not address issues found in its inspection.

Expert Opinion

Watford House care home is yet another in a long line of sites to have been criticised by the CQC in the past year. It is vital that standards are improved to help protect the residents who are among the most vulnerable people in society. <br/> <br/>“The consequences of health and safety failings in a care home can, in some cases, be devastating for residents and their families so it is imperative that the management take on board the CQC’s findings and make improvements as soon as possible.” <br/> Mandy Luckman - Partner