'Unacceptable failings' at Powys border town care home

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has taken action to protect people at Keegan’s Court Residential Care Home in Kerry Lane after rating them inadequate again following an unannounced focused inspection in February following concerns about the management of the home and to follow up on the progress of improvements they were told to make at their last inspection in July last year.

Inspectors found people weren’t always treated with dignity and respect, confidential information about people's health and welfare wasn’t secured, toilet doors did not close or could not be locked, residents did not always receive their medicines safely or as prescribed.

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The CQC also found that there were not enough suitably qualified staff available to support people at all times. They did not effectively analyse significant incidents to learn from them and to make changes to improve people's safety.

Andy Brand, CQC deputy director of operations for Midlands, said: “When we visited Keegan’s Court Residential Care Home, we were concerned to find that issues highlighted at the last inspection, had still not been addressed and more worryingly, we found further deterioration in the care being provided to people. It’s for this reason that we’re using our enforcement powers to prevent them from operating in order to keep people safe. 

“Our inspectors found the home wasn’t well-led and there had been a number of changes to the leadership team. They failed to identify who was responsible for running the service and what roles staff were expected to carry out, to ensure people were receiving a high standard of care. 

“They weren’t heating the home at the start of the inspection, meaning people were uncomfortable, and at risk of hypothermia. One person took an inspector’s hand, and they were cold to the touch, with another telling us they had to keep their coat on all the time because they were so cold. The provider knowingly allowed the heating to fail for around 72 hours, until we insisted heating was restored as part of our inspection. This is unacceptable.

“It was also incredibly concerning that people weren’t protected from the risk of abuse or ill-treatment. Leaders at the home were passed concerns about the behaviour of staff members but failed to act on it putting people at risk of receiving inappropriate or potentially abusive behaviour.

“Due to the number of serious issues found at Keegan’s Court, the service will remain in special measures to help us, and other partner organisations keep people safe until our enforcement action is complete.” 

Inspectors also found people were not effectively protected from the risk of infection as there was no adequate infection prevention and control measures in place. There was visible dirt in areas of the home and on fixtures. They also found that the provider had also failed to update or implement the latest infection prevention and control guidance.

CQC have started the process to prevent the provider, Kevindale Residential Care Home, from operating this service to keep people safe. The provider can appeal this action. 

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