CQC take action to cancel registration of Dorset provider

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has taken enforcement action to cancel the registration of the providers of Thistlegate House in Dorset to protect the safety and welfare of people in its care.

The provider appealed this decision to cancel and a hearing was held on 27-29 April 2016. The Tribunal confirmed CQC’s decision and the Judge concluded that CQC’s evidence was overwhelming and the decision to cancel was proportionate and necessary.

CQC’s decision to cancel the registration of the provider, Mr J A Corney and Mrs J P Webb, means they can no longer legally operate a residential home service from its premises at Thistlegate House, Axminster Road in Charmouth, Dorset or any other premises that CQC would regulate in England.

Inspectors visited the home five times since January 2013 with the latest inspection taking place in April 2016. Major concerns in relation to the quality, safety and monitoring of the service were found at each inspection. The management stated that they fully complied with the regulations but inspectors found no evidence of this.

There was a continued failure to ensure that people were protected from risks and inspectors found that there were breaches in regulations on every inspection. Despite a number of enforcement measures being put in place to bring about fundamental change to the service. This action had not resulted in people receiving the care appropriate to their needs.

There was a continued lack of action to mitigate risks. These included people not receiving their medicines safely and safeguards not being in place to protect people from abuse. Safeguarding issues raised by Dorset County Council had not been investigated by the providers.

In addition, there was a consistent lack of training and supervision support provided for staff this was putting people at risk of unsafe care or care that was not appropriate to their needs and people in the home were sometimes treated in ways that were not respectful. End of life wishes had not been discussed or recorded.

The Tribunal Judge, Maureen Roberts said:

“Action plans have been asked for, completed late and not been complied with. Ultimately the proprietors have shown an unwillingness to improve or change the way that they run the home. The situation has gone on for a long period of time.

“Mr Corney in particular appears to have spent a huge amount of energy and time arguing with the regulatory bodies. He has convinced himself that he is right and, from his own evidence, said that he would not wish to run the home in any other way. We accept that it is more likely than not that the provision of care at the home would continue with its current overall judgement of inadequate.”

Full reports detailing the findings of the inspections have been published on the CQC website: www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-121758872

CQC is working closely with Dorset County Council and local commissioners who are offering support to people with finding alternative accommodation

Deborah Ivanova, Deputy Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care in CQC’s south region, said:

“People are entitled to services which provide safe, effective, compassionate and high quality care and the owners of Thistlegate House have failed their residents.

“The provider was placing people at significant risk of receiving inappropriate or unsafe care and made little attempt to address the issues we identified despite having several opportunities. For this reason we had no option but to cancel the registration.

“Our priority is always the safety of people using health and social care services and we would not consider this kind of action if we did not feel there was a serious risk to people, their health and wellbeing or that the environment they were in was unsafe.”

“I hope the action we have taken together with the tribunal decision should send a strong public message that we will not hesitate to use our powers to take tough action if we have concerns about the care and welfare of people who use services. We will work with providers to encourage improvement but if this is not in place then our role is to take action to protect those who are at risk of harm”

Ends

For further information please contact CQC Regional Engagement Manager John Scott on 07789 875809 or, for media enquiries, call the press office on 020 7448 9401 during office hours. Journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here. (Please note: the duty press officer is unable to advise members of the public on health or social care matters).

For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.