Lammas Lodge care home in Lugwardine, Herefordshire, is failing to meet 6 essential standards of quality and safety – including putting residents at risk of abuse – according to an investigation by regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The owners of Lammas Lodge, Parkcare Homes Ltd, have been told to make improvements or face the threat of closure. Lammas Lodge provides care for young adults with learning disabilities and needs associated with autism. The home was inspected in June after an anonymous source raised concerns about the quality of care provided there. Inspectors highlighted 6 areas of concern; care and welfare of people who use the service, safeguarding people who use the service, staffing, assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision, management of medicines and supporting staff.
Andrea Gordon, regional director of CQC in the West Midlands and East Midlands, said: “The failings at Lammas Lodge are a real concern and improvements need to be made. “The people who use this service are young vulnerable adults with complex needs and it is unacceptable for them be put at risk by those caring for them. “The provider needs to ensure that the correct number of staff are available to look after people and that safeguarding issues are always reported to the appropriate agencies. “CQC has been working closely with Herefordshire County Council and Wye Valley NHS Trust to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the residents and we have demanded urgent improvements from the provider. “We will be returning in the near future to check the home’s progress against the action plan it has submitted to us. “If improvements are not made, we have a range of enforcement powers which can be used, including prosecution, closure, or restriction of services.”
