CQC publishes 10 reports from its review of services for people with learning disabilities

9 May 2012

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) today publishes a further 10 reports from a targeted programme of 150 unannounced inspections of hospitals and care homes that care for people with learning disabilities.

The programme is looking at whether people experience safe and appropriate care, treatment and support and whether they are protected from abuse. A national report into the findings of the programme will be published later this year.

Inspections were focused on two outcomes relating to the government’s essential standards of quality and safety: the care and welfare of people who use services, and safeguarding people who use services from abuse.

Inspectors found major concerns at three of the ten locations:

• Chaseways, run by Cambian Learning Disabilities Limited
• Melling Acres run by Parkcare Homes (No 2) Limited
• The New Barn run by Claremont Clare Limited.

Chaseways

People receiving treatment and support were not routinely involved in their care plans and health care did not show routine medical treatment accessible for people who use the service.

Staffing shortages sometimes restricted the number of activities available to people receiving treatment, and there was a lack of stimulation within everyday living for the people receiving treatment and support at Chaseways. The service did not provide the assessment and treatment and rehabilitation that was required

Although procedures were in place to prevent and identify abuse, they were not always followed.

• We have received an action plan from the provider. Following a visit in March, a Mental Health Act Commissioner reported that they were impressed with the comprehensive care planning and risk assessment documentation which had been regularly updated and noted that wherever possible, patients had contributed to their plans.

Melling Acres

People’s care and support needs were assessed but most care plans were not up to date and some important information including that relating to their physical health needs was not in place.

There were some activities and experiences in place but these were limited. Whilst most staff were respectful to the people using the service there were examples when this had not been consistent.

The lack of advocacy limited the ways people had to express any concern.

• We have received an action plan setting out how the provider is addressing our concerns.

The New Barn

People received a service from a provider who had taken steps to prevent abuse. Staff had the knowledge of how to protect people from abuse, or the risk of abuse but did not fully record any restraints used. The home had not involved the local safeguarding authority appropriately making the independent oversight of people’s care more difficult to carry out.

• A safeguarding referral was made as a result of the inspection. These were made by the provider to the local authority and are being followed through. Staff are receiving further training about following the safeguarding policy.

All the services where concerns are identified have to tell the CQC how and when they will improve. Those failing to meet essential standards could face enforcement action by the regulator if improvements are not made.

Overall, one location is compliant with Outcome 4 (care and welfare of people who use services), two have minor concerns, five have moderate concerns and two have major concerns. On Outcome 7 (safeguarding people from abuse), four locations are compliant, one has a minor concern, three have moderate concerns and two have major concerns.

The batch contains one NHS, seven independent health care and two adult social care locations.

CQC inspectors were joined by ‘experts by experience’ – people who have first hand experience of care or as a family carer and who can provide the patient or carer perspective as well as professional experts in our learning disability inspections.

Where inspectors identified concerns, they raised these immediately with the providers and managers of services.

The national report will be based on the findings from all the 150 inspections and will make conclusions about the overall state of this type of service.

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Notes to editors

For media enquiries call the CQC press office on 0207 448 9401

For general enquiries call 03000 616161

The reports will be published on CQC’s web site on Wednesday 9 May http://www.cqc.org.uk/LDReports7

The reports published today are for the following providers and locations. The table shows our findings in relation to the two outcomes we focused on, but some reports also show concerns in respect of other outcomes.

Amendment to press release of 25 April regarding Jubilee Court

The table in our press release of 25 April we incorrectly listed Jubilee Court- Autism support and Care Ltd as having a major and a minor concern; it should have indicated a moderate and a minor.

Inspection teams are making unannounced visits to 150 services. More than 100 are NHS and independent services that provide services such as assessment and treatment, rehabilitation and longer term care. The others are adult social care locations.

They are checking two outcomes:

• Outcome 4 Care and welfare
• Outcome 7 Safeguarding adults from abuse.

But where our inspectors find problems with other outcomes, they will report on these.

Our inspection teams are led by CQC inspectors joined by two ‘experts by experience’ -  people who have experience of using services, either first hand or as a family carer and who can provide the patient perspective and a professional advisor.

CQC set up an advisory group to help it plan the programme. CQC’s Chair, Dame Jo Williams, chairs the group. The members come from a range of voluntary, charitable and other organisations that work with or represent people with learning disabilities and their families.

The learning disability inspection programme was launched in response to the abuse revealed by undercover filming by the BBC Panorama programme. CQC apologised for failing to respond to warnings of abuse at Winterbourne View. Matters concerning Winterbourne view are the subject of serious case review.

Further information

There is information on this website about How to share concerns and complaints about a social care service, a council, independent healthcare services, the NHS or CQC.

People can telephone concerns to CQC on 03000 616161

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation has provided this list of organisations providing independent support to families with disabled relatives. Click on the name of an organisation to read more information.

Support for families

Families provide long term love, care and support for their disabled relatives, and speak up for them. Even when people leave home, they do not leave the family. Families continue to offer a lifetime of involvement and support, and know a great deal about their relative’s needs and wishes, likes and dislikes.

When the services and support for a relative go wrong it can be very difficult for families to deal with. They may be faced with a barrage of information and decisions to take, as well as coming to terms with what has happened. It is important that families know where they can get impartial information, and find out what support is available to them. There is a list below of organisations which you may find useful.

It is important to note that family carers must be consulted and involved in key decisions about the care and support of a relative who is unable to make these decisions (unless you have specifically asked not to be involved). There is a proper legal process that must be followed, under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. For example, your relative cannot be moved to another service without involving you, and others who know your relative well, in the decision-making process. For more information about this, see Making Decisions: A guide for family, friends and other unpaid carers. Copies available by phoning 0300 456 0300.

Organisations providing independent support

Other useful contacts