Barnsley care home branded ‘inadequate’ by inspectors

The Care Quality Commission has told Royal Court Care Home in Hoyland, Barnsley, that it must make improvements to protect the safety and welfare of the people living there.

The care home, operated by Healthmade Limited, has been rated as inadequate and placed into special measures by the CQC. The home provides accommodation and care for up to 40 elderly people. The CQC carried out an unannounced inspection in September this year to follow up on improvements required as a result of a previous visit made in January.

The report found a catalogue of errors, including that systems for safeguarding people from abuse were not effective.

Inspectors found that although people spoke positively about the staff and how staff cared for them, observations showed some were kind yet some were ‘the opposite’. The report said: “We saw instances where people’s privacy and dignity were not respected.”

During the inspection there was a ‘lack of visible staff throughout the home’ and careworkers said they were often rushed due to staff shortages. Employees were also found to lack some basic training and that medicines were not given out correctly and were not kept safely or securely.

Linda Bailey, a director at Healthmade Limited reassured residents and said: “A detailed plan of action in response to the requirements of the CQC is in place and being subject to work fully supported by the company and where necessary, external advisors. We are working intensively at the home to implement the necessary improvements.”