Care Quality Commission could close Lauriston House care home in Bickley (From This Is Local London)

Care Quality Commission could close Lauriston House care home in Bickley Park Road, Bickley

12:48pm Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in News By Robert Fisk

LAURISTON House care home in Bickley is at risk of closure after an unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) exposed a catalogue of failings.

The care home owner Larchwood Care has fired the care home manager and several other members of staff as a result of an internal investigation.

And CQC found ‘very serious failings’ at the home in Bickley Park Road, Bickley, during its recent unannounced inspection and has issued seven warning notices.

During their inspection they found people were at risk of abuse because policies on safeguarding and whistle blowing were incomplete.

Some of the residents’ personal records were not up to date and some were missing.

There were significant gaps in staff training and the home was failing to ensure enough staff were on duty at all times to meet the needs of people living in the home, especially at night.

 

On inspection day a number of call bells did not work meaning staff could not always be contacted in an emergency.

And inspectors also found decisions about do not attempt resuscitation orders had been made without evidence of regard to mental capacity or the wishes of the person concerned.

Matthew Trainer, deputy director of CQC in London, said: “These very serious failings cannot be allowed to continue, and require immediate attention by the provider. “Our inspectors will return in the near future to carry out another inspection. “If we find that the home is not making the required progress, quickly, we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers further to protect the people who live there.”

A Bromley Council spokesman says it is working closely with the CQC and also providing support to the residents and their families as the improvements are brought in and is monitoring their care on a regular basis.

A Larchwood Care spokeswoman said: “We take this matter very seriously and have put significant resources in place to address these issues with the highest priority and to monitor on-going improvements to the service.

“We await a follow up inspection and are confident that our actions will confirm the home is operating within CQC guidelines.”