CQC takes action to protect the welfare of people through cancellation of Kent care home owner’s registration
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has taken urgent legal action to protect the safety and welfare of people by cancelling the registration of a provider of a Kent residential home.
On Wednesday 1 July CQC was successful in its application to Canterbury Magistrate Courts to cancel the registration of Macari Homes Limited with immediate effect. This means that they can no longer legally provide accommodation and personal care from their premises at Springfield’s Residential Home, Hengist Road, Westgate on Sea, Kent.
CQC took this action because it had serious concerns about the service and the risks to people using it.
Staff had not taken action to keep risks to a minimum and on occasion had not contacted the doctor when people’s health had deteriorated. When risks to people had been identified steps to reduce the risks had not been followed.
People were at risk of receiving inappropriate care due to the poor practice and people living in the service were at increased risk of choking, falling, developing pressure sores and of malnutrition and dehydration.
People were at risk of not receiving the care and support that they needed as there were not enough staff on duty and the recruitment checks for staff working at the home were not thorough.
The provider had not meet recommendations and requirements made by the Kent Fire and Rescue Service which meant people were not protected from harm if there was a fire or other emergency
Inspectors were not satisfied care standards were being met and were concerned that the way in which the home was being run did not provide consistent care. People using the service were at risk of receiving unsafe and inappropriate care.
As a result of this, CQC decided action was needed to ensure people were protected.
Deborah Ivanova, Interim Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care at CQC, said:
“CQC took action to protect the safety and wellbeing of people by moving to cancel Springfield’s Residential Home registration, meaning it could no longer operate. The serious failings we witnessed were completely unacceptable.”
“Taking action leading to the closure of any service is not something that we take lightly, but when we find very poor practice, as we did in this case, we have no alternative but to take action to protect the safety and welfare of people.”
“I hope that this sends a strong public message that we are on the side of people who use services and will not hesitate to take tough action if a provider fails to meet the standards for care that everyone has the right to expect.”
