Some residents of Breckside Park Residential Home were described as “visibly unkempt” and received a bath only once a week
Breckside Park Residential Home has been put into special measures.
Breckside Park Residential Home has been put into special measures.
View 2 Images
A Liverpool care home has been put into special measures after breaching legal regulations around dignity, respect, and safe treatment following an inspection. Some residents of Breckside Park Residential Home were described as “visibly unkempt” and received a bath only once a week, with the cleanliness of the home also criticised.
The care home, in Anfield, was rated inadequate after a four-day inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in September. The facility, which provides care to over 65s, failed to meet the CQC’s standards in safety, care, and leadership.
At the time of the inspection, 30 people were living at the facility off Lower Breck Road. In a report published on November 17, inspectors said the provider was found to be in breach of legal regulations relating to dignity and respect, safe care and treatment and good governance.
A spokesperson for the home said the provider was taking the feedback “really seriously” and the firm was working closely with Liverpool City Council and the CQC to address the issues.
Areas of the home, including the dining room and bedrooms, were described as “unclean and unhygienic”. Some residents told inspectors they were only offered a bath once a week, and several residents were “visibly unkempt”, with some having overgrown fingernails and wearing unclean clothes.
Inspectors also found “unclean bedding, broken furniture and scuffed and stained décor”. Bedrooms were found cluttered with flammable items and one person was using a plastic cup to dispose of their cigarette butts.
The inspector wrote: “Walls, skirting boards and door thresholds were unclean across communal areas, corridors and people’s bedrooms.
“There was a build-up of food debris and spillages on dining and bedroom furniture. Equipment used to support people with their mobility was unclean and unhygienic. This included stand aids, wheelchairs, hoists, falls mats, sensor mats, commodes and walking aids.”
The cleanliness of medicine cupboards was also criticised in the report, with inspectors finding a build-up of dust and spillages. Staff were found to be using unclean equipment to assist people with their mobility and served drinks without cleaning jugs and cups in between use.
Breckside Park Residential Home has been put into special measures.
Breckside Park Residential Home has been put into special measures.
View 2 Images
Inspectors found residents were put “at risk of avoidable harm” and risks to the health, safety and well-being of residents were not being assessed, monitored or managed, according to the report. Inspectors said the home itself “posed a risk” to the health and safety of residents, with fire doors and exit routes obstructed, and one fire exit in disrepair.
Inspectors found residents were not always treated with “kindness, empathy and compassion, or with respect for their dignity”, and staff sometimes failed to respond to people’s needs in the moment or act to minimise any discomfort, concern or distress.
They also said disease control measures were “unsafe” and were “impacting on people’s dignity”. The CQC put the home into special measures, demanding “significant improvements” from the operators.
The owners, a Mr and Mrs K Khistria, were served a warning notice by the CQC in September for “failing to meet regulations related to the safe care and treatment and good governance” at the home.
Families and residents were generally positive about the service when questioned by the CQC, with one resident saying: “Staff are excellent, always kind and patient and you can have a laugh with them.”
Partner at Breckside Park Residential Home, Nimesh Kistria, said: “We have taken the feedback really seriously and we’re working closely with the council and CQC to address the issues.
“We have a full action plan that we have drawn up with the local council; and we’re in regular contact with them. We’re not far off in addressing the issues. We’re working hard to address the issues.”
Do you have a tip or a story? Contact jon.blackburn@liverpoolecho.co.uk