Powys border care home deregistered after repeated failures

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has taken further action to protect people at Keegan’s Court Residential Care Home in Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire, following an inspection in June.

The enforcement action is against the provider of care at Keegan’s Court – Kevindale Residential Care Home.

The latest inspection was prompted due to concerns received by the CQC about unsafe staffing levels in the home. Inspectors found continued breaches regarding safeguarding people from abuse, governance, and people’s safety.

This comes after a previous report detailed “unacceptable” failings, including residents at risk of hyperthermia after the provider knowingly allowed the heating to fail for around three days.

READ MORE: Care home inspectors found people at risk of hyperthermia after heating failed

That led to the home being placed in special measures to focus staff attention on improving standards.

Andy Brand, CQC deputy director of operations for the Midlands, said: “When we returned to Keegan’s Court Residential Care Home, we were concerned that issues highlighted at the last two inspections still hadn’t been addressed. It’s for this reason that we’re using our enforcement powers to prevent them from operating in order to keep people safe.”

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The facility is a care home providing support with personal care to residents. At the time of inspection, two people were living at the home.

No ratings were given at the inspection, so it remains rated inadequate overall - this includes how safe, caring and well-led the facility was considered.

“It was also incredibly concerning that people weren’t protected from the risk of abuse or ill-treatment,” added Mr Brand. “For example, an ex-staff member who had been dismissed following allegations of abuse entered the building regularly and had the door code to enter independently.

“Leaders knew this person was entering the building and did nothing to prevent it from happening to keep people safe from abuse – this is unacceptable.

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

Mr Brand added there were other issues surrounding poor staffing levels, a lack of clear of leadership and a lack of knowledge of what to do in an emergency.

The CQC said they were “aware that the local authority recently supported the remaining two people at the home to seek alternative accommodation”.

Both of the companies involved at the home, Kevindale Care Services and Keegan Court Care Services are both in liquidation with neither company filing accounts in the last two years.

The CQC however have confirmed that the management of the company would not be able to start another company through their registration process.