Westbury Watersmead care home failed by inspectors (From Wiltshire Times)

Westbury Watersmead care home failed by inspectors

9:30am Monday 3rd September 2012 in Westbury By Will Frampton

A Westbury care home has been issued a formal warning by the Care Quality Commission after failing an inspection last month.

The Orders of St Johns Care Trust Watersmead home received an unannounced visit by inspectors in July following up on a previous inspection in December.

The CQC has warned the trust, which is registered to care for up to 50 people, it faces enforcement action unless urgent improvements are made.

Inspectors failed the home on six of the eight outcomes assessed, stating that:

• People’s care needs were not fully assessed and relevant care plans developed to meet people’s needs.
   
• The care plans which were in place were not consistently being followed and nationally accepted guidelines were not always used.
   
• The provider had in place an audit system to check quality and safety at the home, but the system had not picked up the shortfalls that CQC found.
   
• While the provider's quality audits had identified areas for action, other risks which had been identified by the provider were not being addressed by the home.

CQC deputy director Ian Biggs said: “These standards exist to protect vulnerable people, who cannot always speak up for themselves, from being put at risk of harm. Providers have a legal duty to be compliant.

“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 we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers further to protect the people who live there.”