Ryhope Manor Care Home Placed Under Special Measures

Ryhope Manor Care Home in Sunderland has been subjected to special measures following a discovery by a regulatory body of deficiencies in safeguarding, medical records, and cleanliness. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) identified eight breaches of regulations at the facility, leading to its rating being downgraded from good to inadequate, alongside the issuance of three warning notices. Victoria Marsden, a CQC official, stated that individuals residing at the home were not receiving the “high-quality care they should be able to expect.” Maurice Dezou, the care home’s director, affirmed that the team was actively working to rectify all identified issues. The watchdog’s inspection was conducted in September. It was prompted, according to the CQC, by “serious concerns” reported by “several sources.” Ms. Marsden noted that the care home, which provides services for 30 residents, suffered from poor leadership that had failed to implement effective safeguarding systems to protect people from abuse. She added that care home staff “hadn’t always notified” other relevant bodies, such as the police, regarding safeguarding allegations. The inspection team also raised concerns about the care home’s management of residents’ finances. “We passed our concerns on to the local authority safeguarding team,” she confirmed. She further reported that the home was not consistently clean or adequately maintained. “For example, the taps didn’t always work, and staff had to carry warm water to some people’s rooms,” she explained. The CQC additionally found that the home did not offer sufficient activities to address the social and emotional needs of its residents. Ms. Marsden highlighted gaps in medicine records, which she said placed residents at risk of “not receiving their medication as prescribed.” She conveyed that the watchdog anticipated “rapid and widespread improvements” from the care home. The regulator clarified that the care home’s placement under special measures means it will undergo close monitoring while improvements are being implemented.