Dozens of care homes in Dorset fail to meet national standards

In the wake of a recent Panorama documentary on BBC1, which showed shocking footage of elderly residents being neglected and mistreated, the Echo can reveal that 69 care homes in Dorset have been told to improve.

This is the latest information from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which posts its inspection results online.

Among these homes, six in the county have faced enforcement action including one in Dorchester.

In the past year, inspectors have highlighted issues at facilities in west Dorset including hygiene, medication dosage, protection from abuse, record-keeping and ethical concerns of ‘privacy and dignity’.

Enforcement action was issued at the now for sale Avenue House, in Weymouth Avenue in Dorchester last year.

Inspectors found that ‘people did not experience care, treatment and support that met their needs and protected their rights’ at the care home, which provides care for 33 people.

The report found that the home ‘was not being adequately maintained’ with no plan in place to ensure the premises were ‘brought back to an acceptable standard’.

Inspectors said: “This inspection was carried out to ensure that warning notices that had been served on the provider had been complied with.

“These notices related to cleanliness and infection control and safety and suitability of premises.”

Facilities and care at the address are currently under review.

Greenbushes Nursing Home in Dorchester, which provided care for up to 42 people, was visited by inspectors in November, ahead of its closure the following month.

Improvements were required in five areas and the latest report found that people did not get a choice of some foods and were not ‘consistently protected from abuse’.

It said: “Matters that should have been investigated by the provider had not been attended too.”

Buyers are being sought for Avenue House Nursing Home and Greenbushes Nursing Home.

Both were owned by Dorchester Care LLP which has now gone into administration.

Joint administrators Bob Maxwell and Julie Palmer have appointed a care home operator to take care of Avenue House residents in the interim.

Goldcrest House in Weymouth was visited by an inspector on October 28 and found to need improvements in areas including ‘caring for people safely and protecting them from harm’.

The care home provides personal care for up to 26 people and is currently under review by the CQC.

The report found that ‘medicines administration records were not always accurate’, and the recording of some was not ‘specific regarding the dose administered’.

It also said: “Risk assessments were not always present or current, and staff had not followed guidance to ensure that people’s risks were being managed.

“The home had not always acted in a timely manner to meet people’s identified needs.”

No one at Goldcest was available for comment.

Belle Rose Nursing Home, in Prince of Wales Road in Dorchester, which accommodates a maximum of 12 people was also on the improvement list.

The latest report, of September last year, said: “People were not cared for in a clean, hygienic environment’ and also found the provided facilities ‘did not have suitable arrangements to ensure that people’s privacy and dignity was respected’.

The report revealed that: “The absence of an effective system to monitor infection control measures and home cleanliness had not ensured the home was clean.”

No one from Belle Rose wished to comment.

FEARS about the care system were heightened after a recent Panorama programme in which an elderly woman partially paralysed and with dementia was allegedly slapped by a worker at an Essex care home.

The programme alleged the same resident was also mocked, taunted and bullied by other care workers while some residents were roughly handled, ignored and left in their own excrement for hours when undercover filming took place at the home.

The head of the Care Quality Commission’s social care inspectors in the South has committed to return to every care home which has been failing to meet national standards. After unannounced inspections by CQC identified a range of concerns at care homes, inspectors have told the providers that they must make improvements.

Adrian Hughes, deputy chief inspector of adult social care, said: “People have a right to expect good quality, safe and effective care; there is no excuse for poor or inadequate care.

“Our reports show that many providers across England and in Dorset provide good care which people using the services and their relatives value, but we have some providers who have not achieved this “Where we find that a care home, or any provider for that matter, is failing to meet the standards, we would always expect the provider to show us how they are going to address the issue. “We will return, without notice, to see for ourselves how that care provider is performing. Most providers will take action, but if we are not satisfied - then we can take and will take further action.”

WHEN contacted by the Echo a number of the care homes said that they had been visited by inspectors since the latest online reports and told that they had now met all standards.

Raglan House in Weymouth were told that improvements were required in ‘caring for people safely and protecting them from harm’ in the latest report on January 25.

But a spokeswoman at the home said the issue, which concerned ‘hair in a plughole’, had now been sorted.

Kingsley Court Care Home in Weymouth, was told to improve in the same area.

Owner and manager Michael Fry said: “We scored perfectly on five items and had a problem with just one which we addressed within five days.

“It’s done and dusted now and we are waiting for our next inspection.”

When asked about improvements needed in the one area of ‘management’ at Dorset Residential Homes on Kirtleton Avenue, Weymouth, chief executive Gillian Lacey said: “10 Kirtleton Avenue has addressed all of the issues and declared itself compliant to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) at the end of 2013.

“Despite numerous requests from DRH to CQC the home is still waiting for formal re-inspection to reflect the current status.”

Crecy Residential Home in Weymouth was told to improve in three areas including ‘providing care, treatment and support that meet’s people’s needs’.

A spokesman said that since the report, which said that inspectors found there to be ‘not enough staff’ to ‘meet needs in a timely manner’, the home had been ‘fully compliant’.

He added Crecy’s sister home, Gainsborough Nursing Home, in Swanage had also been re-inspected and found to be fully compliant.

Peter Lindsley, of Age UK Dorchester, said more needed to be done to protect the elderly in homes and praised the CQC for highlighting the worst cases.

“It is really distressing when you hear about people at any stage of their life, particularly more vulnerable people, being treated like this,” he added.

“Sadly this is reflecting a trend in under funding in older people’s care.

“The government has got to commit to putting more money into care.

“The CQC is doing a good job bringing these cases to light but there is clearly an underpinning problem.”

THE 69 care homes in Dorset which the CQC has said require improvement:

FIGURES ACCURATE AS OF 4.20PM ON MAY 16 We understand that some of these homes have undergone a review and since met all standards- the CQC will publish these online in the coming weeks.

Abbey View, Sherborne - latest report published on March 2014.

Treating people with respect and involving them with their care: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Adamscourt Residential Care Home, Bournemouth - latest report published on March 21 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Staffing: Improvements required

Autism Wessex, Highcroft and Valley View, Beaminster - latest report published on March 20 Treating people with respect and involving them in their care: Improvements required Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Avenue House, Dorchester - latest report published on January 30 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: enforcement action Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Avonwood Manor, Poole - latest report published on November 28 Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required

Beechey House, Bournemouth - latest report published on February 18 Treating people with respect and involving them in their care: Enforcement action Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Enforcement action Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Enforcement action Management: Enforcement action

Belle Rose Nursing Home, Dorchester - latest report published on September 11, 2013 Treating people with respect and involving them in their care: Improvements required Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Broadwaters, Bournemouth - latest report published on September 28, 2013 Treating people with respect and involving them in their care: Improvements required

Buxton House, Weymouth - latest report published on June 11, 2013 Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Castle Dene, Bournemouth - latest inspection report published on November 13, 2013 Management: Improvements required

Castleman House, Blandford Forum - latest inspection report published on November 28, 2013 Management: Improvements required

Chaseborough House, Wimborne - latest inspection report published on March 21 Management: Improvements required

Cheverels Care Home, Maiden Newton - latest inspection report published on January 29 Staffing: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Chine Breeze, Bournemouth - last inspection report December 10, 2013 Treating people with respect and involving them in their care: Improvements required Staffing: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Clarondene Residential Care Home, Lyme Regis - latest inspection report published on June 14, 2013 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required Staffing: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Coneygar Lodge, Bridport - latest inspection report published on May 29, 2013 Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required

Crecy Residential Home, Weymouth - latest inspection report published on September 28 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Staffing: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Denewood House Care Home, Ferndown - latest inspection report published on October 25, 2013 Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Dorset House, Poole - latest inspection report published on October 30, 2013 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required

Dorset Learning Disability Service, 11 Friars Close, Dorchester - latest inspection report published on March 1 Treating people with respect and involving them in their care: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Dorset Learning Disability Service, 20 Edward R​oad, Dorchester - latest inspection report published on October 9, 2013 Treating people with respect and involving them in their care: Improvements required Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required

Dorset Learning Disability Service, 4 Romulus Close, Dorchester - latest inspection report published on January 17 Management: Improvements required

Dorset Residential Homes, Kirtleton Avenue, Weymouth - latest inspection report published on October 1, 2013 Management: Improvements required

Drayton House Residential Care Home, Bridport - latest inspection report published on March 19 Treating people with respect and involving them in their care: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Drumconner Care Home, Bournemouth - latest inspection report published on November 27, 2013 Staffing: Improvements required

Fairfield House, Chickerell - latest inspection report published on January 10 Management: Improvements required

Forest Hill House Nursing Home, Wimborne - latest inspection report published on October 29 Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required

Gainsborough Care Home, Swanage - latest inspection report published on March 27 Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Enforcement action

Gillingham Grange, Gillingham - latest inspection report published on September 6, 2013 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Caring for people, safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Glencairn House Retirement Home, Dorchester - latest inspection report published on February 21 Treating people with respect and involving them in their care: Improvements required

Goldcrest House, Weymouth - latest inspection report on November 23, 2013 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required Staffing: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Greenbushes Nursing Home, Dorchester - latest inspection report published on January 30 Treating people with respect and involving them in their care: Improvements required Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required Staffing: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Hannah Levy House Trust, Bournemouth - latest inspection report published on November 13, 2013 Management: Improvements required

Highview Residential Home, Bournemouth - latest inspection report published on November 1, 2013 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required

Ivers, Marnhull - latest inspection report published on January 28 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required

Kendal Bank Care, Gillingham - latest inspection report published on October 15, 2013 Staffing: Improvements required

Kingland House Nursing and Residential Home, Poole - latest inspection report published on March 28 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Enforcement action Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required

Kingsley Court Care Home, Weymouth - latest inspection report published on December 17, 2013 Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required

Ladignac Care Home, Shaftesbury - latest inspection report published on November 19, 2013 Management: Improvements required Linkfield Court (Bournemouth) Limited - latest inspection report published on November 22, 2013 Staffing: Improvements required

Lyndale, Bournemouth - latest inspection report published on December 24, 2013 Management: Improvements required

Lytchetts, Dorchester - latest inspection report published on July 26 Staffing: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Magna Road, Poole - latest inspection report published on February 19 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Enforcement action Staffing: Improvements required

Marley House, Dorchester - latest inspection report published on October 26, 2013 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Staffing: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Millbrook House (Dorset) Limited, Blandford Forum - latest inspection report published on January 21 Management: Improvements required

Mulberry Court and Scope Inclusion Dorset, Gillingham - latest inspection report published on March 19 Management: Improvements required

New Horizon Centre Limited, Eilat, Bournemouth - latest inspection report published on January 15 Staffing: Improvements required

Oakdene Nursing Home, Wimborne - latest inspection report published on January 7 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Park Lodge Residential Care Home, Poole - latest inspection report published on October 24, 2013 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Pinhay House Residential Care Home, Lyme Regis - latest inspection report published on December 20 Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required Staffing: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Purbeck Care, Wareham - latest inspection report published on October 23, 2013 Staffing: Improvements required

Raglan House, Weymouth - latest inspection report published on January 25 Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required

Retired Nurses National Home, Bournemouth - latest inspection report published on October 2, 2013 Treating people with respect and involving them in their care: Improvements required Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Sandbourne House, Poole - latest inspection report published on January 11 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required

Somerleigh Court, Dorchester - latest inspection report published on September 3, 2013 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Staffing: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

St Albans House, Bournemouth - latest inspection report published on October 26, 2013 Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

St Bridgets Care Centre, Bournemouth - latest inspection report published on August 13, 2013 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required

Sunningdales Care Home, Bournemouth - latest inspection report published on November 21 Treating people with respect and involving them in their care: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Talbot Woods Lodge, Bournemouth - latest inspection report published on January 30 Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required

The Aldbury, Poole - latest inspection report published on February 18 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

The Elms, Bournemouth - latest inspection report published on January 7 Staffing: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

The Gables, Ferndown - latest inspection report published on February 13 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required

The Links, Broadstone - latest inspection report published on April 17 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required

Thistlegate House, Charmouth - latest inspection report published on February 13 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

White Lodge and St Helens, Bournemouth - latest inspection report published on November 20, 2013 Management: Improvements required

Whitway House, Dorchester - latest inspection report published on January 3 Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required

Windsor Court Nursing Home, Bournemouth - latest inspection report published on April 5 Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs: Improvements required Management: Improvements required

Winterbourne Steepleton, Steepleton Manor Care Home, Dorchester - latest inspection report published on February 22 Management: Improvements required

Wordsworth House Care Home, Swanage - latest inspection report published on November 19, 2013 Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm: Improvements required Management: Improvements required