CQC puts Kent care home into special measures following abuse and safeguarding failures

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has placed a care home for autistic people and people with learning disabilities into special measures after an inspection revealed that residents regularly witnessed both resident on resident and staff on resident abuse.

The CQC says it has now taken action to protect people from harm by preventing new admissions to The Hall in Ashford, Kent, and suspending its existing ratings.

Some physical interventions were found to be unlawful

The report found that people’s experience of living at the service was poor. The residents had been subjected to numerous physical interventions, some of which were unlawful, with some staff found to use excessive force.

When incidents of concern occurred, these were not always reported to the local authority safeguarding team or the CQC to ensure appropriate oversight and action was taken.

The investigation also found:

• People had not been safeguarded from the risk of abuse, and residents witnessed abuse ‘regularly’
• Staff who had committed abuse were allowed to continue working at the home, despite the emotional distress this would cause the person who had been abused
• People had been unlawfully restrained by staff and de-escalation techniques had not been used
• The residents lived in a ‘chaotic environment’, with two people living together despite staff knowing they were incompatible roommates
• People were supported by staff who lacked the competence and skill to support them in a positive way
• Documentation was poor and not up to date which left people at avoidable risk of harm.

The CQC also identified nine breaches of legal regulations in relation to a lack of person-centred care, the need for consent, safe care and treatment, safeguarding, good governance, staffing, fit and proper persons employed, duty of candour, and notification of other incidents. The watchdog says it will take further enforcement action on these breaches which will be reported on further when legal processes are complete.

CQC says further action could be taken if improvements are not made

Nexus Programme Limited, who run the care home, have now been asked by the CQC to send weekly action plans advising how they plan to improve the service.

Natalie Reed, CQC Deputy Director of Operations in the South, said: “We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

“We expect to see rapid and widespread improvements and will continue to monitor people living at The Hall closely to keep them safe while this happens. We will return to check on their progress and won’t hesitate to take further action if people are not receiving the care they have a right to expect.”

We contacted Nexus Programme Limited but they declined to comment.