Care homes: ‘Level of care for the over 65s in Notts is disgraceful’

MAKING the decision to move a relative into a care home is a tough one for many families. Inspections are designed to help people choose homes with confidence, but information we publish today shows that homes in Notts are performing worse than in any other county in the East Midlands.

This year 16 care homes have failed in all five key areas of care as set out by the watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This compares to only three homes in Derbyshire, two in Lincolnshire and just one in Leicestershire.

The care homes are all run by private companies but some have contracts with the county council who send people to them. In the case of most of the homes which initially failed in all five areas, the council says it is now satisfied they are performing well again, and is continuing to send people to them.

But in the case of three remaining homes it has suspended its contracts and will not send people to the homes until it is satisfied improvements have been made. Those homes are: Gedling Care Home, Gedling; Rufford Care Centre in Worksop; and the mental health unit at Eton Park Care Centre in Cotgrave.

Secretary of Nottingham Elders Forum Glenise Martin, 75, of Sherwood Rise, said the level of care available for the over 65s in Notts was disgraceful.

She said: “The people who are in care homes are very vulnerable people, these are people who need really and truly taking care of.

“These findings are absolutely disgraceful. When people are proud all their lives, and then when they need help and this sort of things happens, it is just dreadful thing.

“Urgent action needs to be taken.”

The five standards assessed by the CQC are split into sub-divisions. A home may be reaching the required standard in some of the sub-divisions but still fail the category overall.

There are two further care homes under review by the council – see panel on the left.

Caroline Baria, service director at Notts County Council, said: “If the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has significant concerns about a Notts care home, it shares information with the council.

“We will then work with the CQC and provider to ensure the concerns are rectified.

“We also take action ourselves, such as suspending the contract with a particular home if our concerns are serious.

“The majority of the 16 homes have not been identified as having serious failings and we have been working with each of these homes to oversee improvements.

“The CQC inspection reports remain on their website until a further inspection is undertaken and some of these reports relate to inspections that were undertaken 18 months ago.

“We still have concerns about the standards of care in five of the homes and we have suspended our contracts with them and are continuing to work with the homes to help improve their services.

“In addition to the CQC’s own inspections, we also carry out an annual audit of all care homes to assess their quality and provide a programme of training for care home staff, in areas such as dementia and end of life care.”