12 August 2011
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has taken urgent enforcement action leading to the closure of a care home in Tunbridge Wells in Kent.
The home, Four Nevill Park, had been registered to provide care for up to 24 adults with autism and challenging behaviour.
In an unannounced visit, inspectors found that the home was not meeting essential standards of quality and safety and that people were not experiencing effective, safe and appropriate care, treatment and support.
Inspectors reported a range of concerns, including staff lacking skills and experience, low staffing levels, poor documentation, lack of behavioural support plans, staff being threatened and bullied, and residents’ complaints not being recorded or resolved.
CQC inspectors raised their immediate concerns with the providers, Evesleigh (Kent) Limited, following the inspection in June, working closely with Kent County council social services.
On 23 June CQC served a Notice of decision to vary the registration of Evesleigh (Kent) Limited under Section 31 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This means that this location is no longer registered to care for people and by law cannot continue as a care home.
Kent County Council and other local authorities have found alternative placement for the remaining 13 people who were living at the home and it is now empty.
Roxy Boyce, Regional Director for CQC in the South East, said: “We have acted quickly to protect the safety and welfare of people at Four Nevill Park.
“Taking action which leads to the closure of a care home is never a decision taken lightly. These are places where people live and we have to weigh up the potential impact on residents.
"But the provider failed in its duty to provide necessary standards of care. The only way to properly protect residents at Four Nevill Park was to close the home immediately.”
Ends
For further information please contact the CQC press office on 0207 448 9239 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.
Notes to editors
On 23 June CQC served a Notice of decision to vary the registration of Evesleigh (Kent) Limited under Section 31 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This means this location is no longer registered to care for people.
Evesleigh had the right to make an appeal in writing within 28 days of the date of the notice, and has chosen not to do so in this case. Legal restrictions prevent CQC from reporting this action until the company has had the opportunity to register an appeal.
About the CQC: Snippet for press releases
About the Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.
We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.
Read the report
Read the reports from our checks on standards at Four Nevill Park.