Marlborough’s Coombe End Court care home in London Road has received a very critical report following an unannounced inspection in late April by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The regulator has given the home an overall rating of “requires improvement” because it has breached the regulations.
Coombe End Court is run by the Orders of St John Care Trust who are a national provider of care services. The home has accommodation for up to 60 older people and has a unit which supports those with dementia.
The CQC inspectors make judgments for all adult care homes on five separate criteria:
• Is the service safe? — Inadequate.
• Is the service effective? — Requires improvement.
• Is the service caring? — Good.
• Is the service responsive? — Requires improvement.
• Is the service well-led? — Requires improvement.
The CQC last inspected Coombe End Court in December 2013 and asked the service provider to take action to make improvements in care planning. The provider said they would address this breach of Regulation by 8 January 2014.
At the inspection in April this year, the CQC found there had been some improvements but more were needed: “History has shown that this provider has not been able to maintain a consistent level of improvements and has breached regulations over time at this location.”
However the report states clearly that the level of ‘caring’ was good: “People were treated with dignity and respect…When staff gave assistance the person remained their primary focus. Staff worked calmly and efficiently together without talking over the person.” And people in the home praised the standards of meals – both in terms of choice and quality.
The CQC were worried about Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Authorisation had been granted to provide essential care and treatment which included the use of restraint: “Care plans showing regard for the Mental Capacity Act were not in place. This meant staff were not given guidance on the restraint to be used which followed the Act and was proportionate and the least restrictive.”
In a statement to Marlborough News Online, The Orders of St John Care Trust said they work very hard to provide good quality care to all our residents: “We are pleased that this inspection report acknowledges the significant improvements that have been made since the appointment of the new Home Manager last year.”
“We recognise that there is still work to do and will work with the CQC to continue improving the service under the strong leadership of the Home Manager. We are very confident that we will demonstrate quickly that Coombe End Court is deserving of a far more complimentary rating.”
“In the meantime our residents, their families and friends, our colleagues, partner organisations and communities, can be absolutely assured that residents at Coombe End Court are safe and well cared for.”