By Charlotte Webster-
A care home complex that looks after people with mental health disorders and learning difficulty faces closure after inspectors discovered dirty toilets and damp ceilings.
Cedar House has been placed in special measures following shameful findings by the Care Quality Commission, The Eye Of Media.Com has heard.
The specialist hospital, off Dover Road, Barham, is spread across six different wards and caters for about 39 residents – it was previously rated ‘good’ following an inspection in 2019.
At the time of the inspection there were 16 people living at the home. The home is an adapted detached residential house. Officials from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have rated Cedar House inadequate, citing several failings that put patients at great risk.
Inspectors also found some staff – who were unfamiliar with the patients – used physical restraint as a first response, rather than using de-escalation techniques first to manage those in distress.
The use of restraint and long-term segregation were found to significantly affect the quality of life of some patients.
The specialist hospital, off Dover Road, Barham, is spread across six different wards and can cater for 39 residents – it was previously rated ‘good’ following an inspection in 2019.
A report of the CQC’s findings reads: “All wards we visited were furnished but looked tired and showed signs of damage that could present a safety risk for patients.”Four of the six wards were visibly dirty on the day of our inspection and although the provider had made improvements when inspectors returned a few days later all wards still looked bare.
“The Tonbridge ward had a smell of damp throughout due to a recent flood through the ceiling of a patient’s bedroom.
“The music room on Folkestone ward was dirty and the toilets were not clean. The shared bathroom and shower facilities looked visibly unclean.
“Four of the six wards were visibly dirty on the day of our inspection and although the provider had made improvements when inspectors returned a few days later all wards still looked bare.
“The Tonbridge ward had a smell of damp throughout due to a recent flood through the ceiling of a patient’s bedroom.
“The music room on Folkestone ward was dirty and the toilets were not clean. The shared bathroom and shower facilities looked visibly unclean.
A report of the CQC’s findings reads: “All wards we visited were furnished but looked tired and showed signs of damage that could present a safety risk for patients.”
Senior managers were not regularly present on the wards and nursing staff felt they did not understand the daily challenges they faced.”
The Huntercombe Group, which manages Cedar House, says it is “deeply disappointed” with the outcome of the inspection and is committed to improving the services.
A spokesman said: “At Cedar House we care for individuals with multiple and highly complex needs and our highest priority is the health, safety and well being of the people in our care.
We were pleased the CQC recognised in its inspection report that staff treat patients with kindness, they respect patients’ dignity and privacy, and that the service was rated as good for being effective and caring.
“The inspection has highlighted areas where improvements are needed in the service we deliver to patients, and we are fully committed to addressing these areas swiftly and improving our practices as we take the learnings from this inspection forward.”