The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated North Bay House in Borow Road inadequate and imposed urgent conditions on the home’s registration following a recent inspection.
The care home, which can accommodate up to 29 older people, was previously rated good but has now been placed in special measures after inspectors found serious concerns about safety, staffing and management.
The CQC carried out the inspection after receiving reports about the quality of care and leadership at the home. Inspectors found those concerns to be justified and identified failings that put residents at risk.
Among the findings were low staffing levels, poor incident investigation, and unsafe management of medicines. Inspectors also saw examples of residents being left without support and staff not always respecting people’s consent or understanding how to protect the rights of those with limited mental capacity.
The report said parts of the home were unclean and unsafe for people living with dementia, with hazards such as bleach tablets left out and fall risks not addressed.
Urgent conditions now prevent North Bay House from admitting new residents without CQC approval. The home must also report weekly on any incidents and progress made to improve safety.
Hazel Roberts, the CQC’s deputy director of operations in the East of England, said staffing shortages had led to unsafe care and missed opportunities to protect residents. “We’ve imposed conditions to focus leaders’ attention on making rapid improvements,” she said.
CQC inspectors will continue to monitor the home closely to ensure people are kept safe while improvements are made. The full inspection report will be published on the CQC website shortly.
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