STAFF at a care home failed to following Covid safety rules and treat patients with respect, a watchdog has revealed.

Willow Court, in Highbridge Street, Waltham Abbey, has been ordered to improve its care by the Care Quality Commission following an inspection.

The watchdog inspectors found staff were not wearing face masks correctly and spoke to residents in a patronising way.

There were also concerns over checks on the quality of the care, which the health watchdog said put residents at risk.

But care home bosses say they do not agree with some of the findings and have challenged these. 

The report states: “Most staff wore personal protective equipment appropriately throughout the inspection.

“However, some members of staff wore their mask under their nose or chin, which is not in line with current government guidelines and increased the risk of spreading infection.

“Staff were regularly observed not practising social distancing rules with each other as per government guidelines to help reduce the spread of infection.

“Medicines were stored safely, and administration records were completed fully. However, instructions for administering covert medicines, medicines are disguised in food or drink and given to a person without their knowledge, lacked specific details on how to administer the medicines.”

The inspectors also found some residents at the care home were spoke to by staff which meant they were not treated with respect or dignity.

The inspectors saw one person not being referred to by their given name by staff and other people living at the service.

The report says there was no justifiable reason for this, and no consultation had taken place with the person or their family.

The report also says: “Staff did not always speak to people in a way that promoted dignity and respect.

“There was a culture of paternalistic behaviour where staff were observed chastising people and referring to people as ‘a good boy’. “One staff member said ‘Staff use a tone that is not right and will talk to people like a child’.

“Whilst we found no evidence that people had been harmed, systems were either not in place or robust enough to demonstrate that there was adequate oversight of the quality of care at the home.

“This placed people at risk of harm.”

A spokesman for the care home said: "We do not agree with all of the CQC's findings and have challenged these. Where we acknowledged that changes could be made, we have implemented a robust action plan to make the necessary improvements.

"Willow Court is a strong service with good relationships with Commissioners and families who stand by the home. As with all our homes, we continue to work towards excellence and to offer the highest quality care. We fully support Willow Court and the manager there to do this.