Care Home Rated “Inadequate” Placed Under Special Measures

A care home has been placed under special measures following an inspection that rated it as “inadequate.” The Care Quality Commission (CQC) conducted a review of Gabriel Court care home in Kettering, Northamptonshire, in May, identifying issues related to the safety of care and treatment, staffing, and the management of the service. The overall rating for Gabriel Court declined from “requires improvement” to “inadequate,” with similar downgrades applied to its safety and leadership assessments. Gabriel Court Care Home stated that the report constituted a “disproportionate assessment” and affirmed that “significant progress” had since been achieved. However, the report indicated that despite previous conditions imposed to enhance safety and care, the home had failed to make sufficient progress. Craig Howarth, CQC deputy director of operations in the midlands, remarked: “We were concerned to see a lack of strong leadership and a culture that didn’t encourage high-quality care.” Ratings for effectiveness, caring, and responsiveness remained at “good,” as these specific areas were not re-evaluated during the focused inspection. Inspectors documented several problems, including unsafe moving and handling practices, inaccurate recording of falls, and a deficiency in updated risk assessments. Mr. Howarth further commented: “Leaders didn’t have an effective system to ensure people being admitted to the home had their risks assessed, or care plans created to ensure staff knew how to care for people’s individual needs. We told leaders they needed to address this as a priority.” A new manager was appointed at the time of the inspection, and the CQC expects them to utilize the findings to implement “rapid and widespread” improvements. The CQC explained that special measures signify the home will undergo close monitoring, with the possibility of further regulatory action if standards do not improve. Gabriel Court Care Home indicated it is now addressing the areas of concern, including “establishing enhanced channels for reporting and record-keeping, improved communication systems across our team and introduced regular team meetings and feedback sessions.” A spokesperson for the home stated: “We are committed to maintaining transparency and will continue to work with the CQC towards reassessment moving out of inadequate status.” For news updates from Northamptonshire, refer to BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.