An "absolutely unacceptable" care home has been placed into special measures after disgusted inspectors concluded "no-one should have to live like this."
Rowan Garth Nursing Home, on Lower Breck Road in Anfield, was rated 'inadequate' in all five areas inspected by health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) - whether it was safe, well-led, effective, responsive and caring.
The facility is run by Bloomcare, part of Wellington Healthcare (Ardern), and offered residential, dementia and nursing care to around 120 residents at the time of the inspection in May.
READ MORE: Death, sackings and multiple investigations at under fire Liverpool care home
Although the home had been rated 'Good' at its last inspection in March 2020, troubling reports had emerged about safety and staffing levels, prompting the CQC to launch a new inspection.
The ECHO reported earlier this year how new admissions had been suspended at Rowan Garth after five safeguarding referrals were made to Liverpool Council.
A scathing report published today painted the full picture of a chaotic and mismanaged operation, with a "lack of understanding at all levels about roles and responsibilities".
Shocking incidents highlighted by the inspection team included finding patients lying in "threadbare linen", including a dementia patient covered by a curtain because staff could not find clean duvet covers.
The CQC also noted that a soiled duvet had been left on a chair in the corner of one resident's room for almost an entire morning before being taken away.
The use of bed rails was found to have been unsafe, with staff failing to complete risk assessments despite two incidents where elderly residents became trapped.
Hayley Moore, the CQC’s head of adult social care inspection, said: "During our inspection of Rowan Garth Care Home in Liverpool, we found that people did not always have care that met their needs, also people were not being treated with dignity and respect.
“We found that processes were not effective to safeguard people from abuse or investigate and act on allegations or evidence of abuse.
“This sort of care is absolutely unacceptable, and no person should ever have to live like this."
The disturbing inspection report revealed how many residents were not safe at the home, with staff lacking the necessary training in areas such as medicine management, understanding the Mental Capacity Act and preventing and treating pressure sores.
Staff members themselves told inspectors how they were "always on the go" and did not have time to engage with their residents, or encourage them to take part in activities.
Inspectors found people's personal possessions, such as clothes and memorabilia were not always treated with respect.
One relative told the CQC team: "We provided a montage of photos of loved ones and family as a reminder to [person].
"We found this montage of photos on the floor, half hidden behind the chest of drawers. It had not been stood up or placed on the wall and [person] could not even see this when in bed."
Other failings included:
- People at risk of harm because risks were not assessed, recorded or manged effectively
- Care plans were poorly completed putting people at risk
- Patients with diabetes did not have their blood glucose levels monitored properly, and staff did not always know what to do if levels moved out of the normal range
Ms Moore said: “Following the inspection, we immediately fed back our concerns to the provider, who put in place immediate improvements. They assured us they would be working with local health and social care organisations to ensure further improvements will be made.
“The service has been placed in special measures, which means we will keep it under review and will re-inspect within six months to check to see whether significant improvements have been made. If sufficient improvements have not been made at that point, we will take enforcement action in accordance with our legal powers.”
A spokeswoman for Rowan Garth told the ECHO: "It is disappointing when we get things wrong but more important is our need to learn and implement corrective action as a priority. Like all good quality and responsible care providers, we strive to improve all the time, and we will continue to do so.
"We acknowledge there were areas where we fell short of the high standards our residents and relatives rightfully expect and deserve, and we took immediate action and have a comprehensive action plan in place to address this.
"We are committed to getting care right and have appointed a highly experienced turnaround manager to support the home to make and sustain improvements while we recruit for a qualified, experienced and compassionate permanent manager to support the home long term.
"We continue to work closely with all relevant authorities and we look forward to the CQC’s next visit where we expect they will note significant improvements."
A Liverpool Council spokesman said: “The council is working with key partners to support the provider to make improvements in the areas identified by the CQC's recent inspection report.
""The council’s social workers are reviewing all the current residents it has placed at the home to ensure their needs are being appropriately met.
“The provider has made a number of management changes following the Care Quality Commission’s inspection to ensure the appropriate leadership is in place at the home.
“The Council understands that this is a difficult time for residents and families. The Council’s Quality Assurance team, together with colleagues from partner agencies, are monitoring and supporting the progress of the provider in implementing their action plan to address the issues identified by the inspection.”
