Much Wenlock care home placed in special measures

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said people were not fully protected from harm and abuse at Darwin Place and incidents had occurred when people and staff had been hurt.

A newly-published report, following an inspection in August, said staff had not followed safeguarding protocols and the management of medicines was "unsafe".

Other issues included care plans not including all the information needed to ensure people received the care and support they required.

Inspectors said people were not always supported by staff who had "the required knowledge and experience to enable them to lead a happy life" and confidentiality was not always respected.

Enforcement action could be taken to close the care home if improvements are not made.

The report said: "The overall rating for this service is inadequate which means it will be placed into special measures.

"Services in special measures will be kept under review and, if we have not taken immediate action to propose to cancel the provider's registration of the service, will be inspected again within six months.

"The expectation is that providers found to have been providing inadequate care should have made significant improvements within this timeframe.

"If not enough improvement is made within this timeframe so that there is still a rating of inadequate for any key question or overall, we will take action in line with our enforcement procedures to begin the process of preventing the provider from operating this service."

The care home, which is run by Swanton Care & Community Limited, was given the lowest possible rating of "inadequate" for how safe, responsive and well-led the service was.

It was also rated as "requires improvement" for being effective and caring.

Bosses at the care home in Southfield Road said action was being taken to make improvements.

A spokesman for Swanton Care & Community Limited said: "We fully accept the findings highlighted in the latest Care Quality Commission report into Darwin Place, Much Wenlock.

"It is a matter of great regret to us that a service that was so recently rated as ‘good’ has now received this new grading.

"We have already put in place a robust action plan to ensure all shortcomings identified in this report are corrected as swiftly as possible, this includes changes to the local management team.

"The safety and wellbeing of the residents remains our number one priority and we will work closely with the CQC in the coming weeks and months to ensure Darwin Place offers the highest quality care and support to everyone."