Mount Denys care home slammed by inspectors

A CARE home has been ordered to shape up by health inspectors following a damning report.

Mount Denys, on The Ridge, which looks after elderly people with dementia, will now come under regular scrutiny by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after its findings were published last week.

It highlighted that the home’s records contained logs of 44 violent attacks between residents and a further 26 directed at staff.

Staff also lacked necessary skills and experience to manage challenging behaviour from residents in the home.

The CQC also criticised Mount Denys, which is run by East Sussex County Council, for not having sufficient numbers of skilled and experienced care staff, following the inspectors’ unannounced visit.

It said risk assessments were not completed fully, were not reviewed regularly and were not used appropriately.

Proper steps had not been taken to ensure people living in the home were receiving safe and appropriate, personalised care, treatment and support, the CQC’s report said.

Mount Denys has two long-stay units that accommodate 10 people each and a respite unit for 11 people.

Roxy Boyce, regional director of CQC in the south east, said: “All services must meet essential standards of care and we will take action where services are failing people. This warning notice sends a clear and public message that Mount Denys needs to address these issues as a matter of urgency or face serious consequences.

“Our inspectors will return to Mount Denys shortly and if we find that the provider is not making the required progress we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers on behalf of the people who live there.”

Mark Stainton, from adult social care at the county council, said: “We are sorry that we have failed to provide the quality of care that older people with dementia and their carers are entitled to and deserve. We would like to reassure families of residents at the home that we have learned some very valuable and important lessons and as soon as we knew about these issues we took immediate action.

“Caring for people with the advanced stages of dementia, especially those with challenging behaviour, can be particularly difficult.

“However that is no excuse and we accept that the quality of care at Mount Denys had fallen below the county council’s expected standards.”

He said the home was increasing staff numbers and reviewing the needs and wishes of each resident by putting in place individual plans to ensure their behaviours are safely managed.

Mount Denys is also increasing the range and choice of activities available to residents at the home, Mr Stainton said.

He added: “We are overhauling our own internal quality monitoring for all of our homes to make sure that in the future any problems are spotted sooner so that we can put them right before they become an issue.”