CQC inspectors slam safety at Birch Court Care Home in report

Representatives of the Care Quality Commission found breaches of regulation in relation to safe care, treatment and staffing during an inspection of Birch Court Care Home.

In a recently published report, they highlighted that inadequate staffing levels at the Egerton Street home was impacting the provision of care residents received.

Inspectors also criticised a failure to embed infection prevention and control measures which left then doubtful as to whether residents were protected from risk.

The report follows Birch Court being named as the worst affected care home in Warrington in terms of death notices received by the CQC of residents who tested positive for Covid-19, with 33 recorded within a near 12-month period.

The commission carried out the unannounced inspection in June following concerns received from Warrington Borough Council in relation to staffing levels and the impact this was having on the quality of care people were receiving.

In its previous inspection in October 2019, the home was rated ‘requires improvement’ overall – a rating it retains.

But after reviewing the safe and well-led inspection areas, the home’s safe rating was downgraded to ‘inadequate’.

In their report, inspectors said: “Recruitment processes were safely in place, but staffing levels were not safely or effectively managed.

“Observations during the inspection and feedback we received confirmed that inadequate staffing levels was impacting the provision of care people received.

“One relative expressed that the home was ‘grossly understaffed’.

“People were not receiving a safe level of care, areas of risk were not robustly reviewed or safely managed.

CQC inspectors slam safety at Birch Court Care Home in damning report (Image: Google Maps)

“Infection prevention and control measures and arrangements were not embedded and we were not assured that people were protected from risk.”

The report goes on to say that both internal and external premises were ‘unkempt’ and that shortfalls were not identified or responded to in a timely manner.

“Poor quality assurance and governance measures meant that the quality and safety of care people received was compromised,” inspectors added.

“Staff were passionate about providing care and support that people needed, but they told us they did not feel valued or supported in their roles.

“Staff expressed that they were under a lot of pressure, were not listened to when raising concerns about staffing levels and their well-being was impacted upon.”

The CQC says it will continue to monitor information it receives about the service until inspectors return.

Following the publication of the report, a spokesman for the home said that the health, safety and wellbeing of residents is the ‘number one priority’, and that it takes all feedback from the CQC ‘very seriously’.

They said: “We regret that on the day of the visit, despite consistent progress, we fell short of the high standards of care we have been delivering, and which residents and their loved ones rightly expect of us.

“We immediately acted to address the CQC’s feedback and have made significant improvements, including enhancing our cleaning regime and hiring more staff at the home.

“We are heartened that the Community Infection Control Team completed an unannounced visit to the home on Monday, where we achieved 99 per cent compliance, highlighting that the home has made vast improvements which we will sustain and build on.

“We are committed to getting care right, and senior colleagues from our regional team are also supporting the home, providing an additional level of oversight and monitoring so that high standards are embedded and maintained.

“We continue to work closely with all relevant authorities and we look forward to the CQC’s next visit, where we expect they will note significant improvements.”

CQC inspectors slam safety at Birch Court Care Home in damning report (Image: Google Maps)

The home also addressed the fact that Birch Court had the most coronavirus-linked deaths of any other care home in Warrington between April 10, 2020, through to March 31 this year.

The spokesman added: “Every death is a tragedy for the individual’s family and is also deeply felt by our colleagues.

“Residents and their families become part of our extended family over the time they live with us, and our thoughts and sympathies are with all families who have lost a loved one from coronavirus.

“The past 17 months have been an exceptionally difficult time for everyone connected to and working at Birch Court.

“Throughout the pandemic we have worked tirelessly to protect our residents and colleagues, also working closely with the local public health team to try to keep residents safe and to help them recover.

“This includes taking steps to ensure all of our homes were following the Government’s guidance at every stage, focusing on the highest standards of infection control, making sure we were using the recommended PPE, utilising all opportunities to participate in testing and supporting the vaccine rollout.

“Despite these measures, sadly our outbreak took place in April 2020, at a time when there was limited information and understanding about this virus, how it spread, what measures would keep people safe – for example, the use of masks – and before the prevalence of asymptomatic transmission was known.

“The outbreak also occurred well before the introduction of a testing programme, or the later vaccine programme, both of which have become the best defences we have against this virus.

“Our colleagues were wholly focused on doing the best job they could in exceptionally difficult circumstances working on the front lines of the pandemic, and we are incredibly proud of their bravery and commitment to our residents.

“We are exceptionally grateful for the ongoing support and understanding of our residents and their loved ones, as we know how difficult this time has been for them.”