Halifax care home put in special measures by inspectors

Laurel Bank, a 37-bed home on Holdsworth Road, Holmfield, has been placed in special measures by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The watchdog criticised staff training, the storage of medicines and record keeping after an inspection on July 6.

The CQC’s report said residents and families praised the home during the inspection.

One person said: “The staff are fine. Absolutely perfect.”

Another told the inspectors: “Nothing is too much trouble for them, they are special. It’s a wonderful, wonderful place.”

The report said: “However this was not universally so.

“We identified some instances where people’s privacy and dignity was not always upheld.”

Inspectors said drugs were not being properly accounted for at the home and some were stored in a de-frosting fridge with water dripping onto boxed medicines.

Their report said: “This meant we were not satisfied that medicines were safely stored in the medicines fridge or at the correct temperature and an accurate record of the temperature was not being recorded.”

The report said there were enough staff to care for residents at the home, but some care workers did not have up to date safety training.

It said: “Training had been provided in an inconsistent manner, with a number of staff not receiving training in key subjects.

“Some staff had not received timely supervision or appraisal.”

Laurel Bank had also failed to report a serious injury which happened in March to the CQC, the report said.

The home was rated inadequate overall, and for being safe and well-led.

It was rated as “requires improvement” for being effective, caring and responsive.

The CQC report said care homes in special measures would be re-inspected within six months.

It said: “The expectation is that providers found to have been providing inadequate care should have made significant improvements within this timeframe.”

Laurel Bank declined to comment when contacted by the Courier.