Third care home owned by company is slammed by health watchdog

A third care home owned by the same company has been given the worst possible rating by the health watchdog.
Sunnyside Care Home in Oxford Road, Dewsbury.Sunnyside Care Home in Oxford Road, Dewsbury.
Sunnyside Care Home in Oxford Road, Dewsbury.

Sunnyside Care Home in Oxford Road, Dewsbury, was rated inadequate by the CQC after it found residents were not adequately protected from harm, proper measures were not in place for people being deprived of freedom and staff were not properly trained.

The report, published today (Friday), followed damning verdicts on Oxford Grange and West House care homes, all run by Northfields Care Limited in Dewsbury.

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Inspectors found staff appeared to have not received safeguarding training and some were unaware of how to deal with residents’ problems.

Staff could not explain why key code locks were put on certain doors, with one member commenting “to keep people safe”.

Inspectors were told about another person who was not allowed outside, even under supervision, because “they run away”.

But a team leader said no Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, which aim to ensure people in supported living do not have their freedom unnecessarily restricted, had been applied for.

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When three staff members were asked if they understood the relevance of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards to their work none of them were able explain, but one said: “Yes I have heard of that it rings a bell.”

Comments by residents and their relatives about staff were positive, and the CQC noted some staff demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the people they supported

One said: “The carers here are just wonderful. I’m treated very well.”

Another said: and “They’re fantastic, every single one, just fantastic.”

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But inspectors also found examples where people’s dignity was not respected, including staff asking people at lunchtime if they wanted a “pinny”.

One person appeared embarrassed by this reference and said they did not want it. The staff member replied, “I think you’ll need it,” and put the apron on them anyway.

Sunnyside was closed down, alongside West House, by its owner last month, before the publication of the report.

The Reporter asked Northfields for a comment but has not received a response.

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