Care home in special measures amid safety concerns

A care home in North Yorkshire has been placed into special measures by the regulator.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has downgraded the rating for Beechwood Care Home in Northallerton from good to inadequate after inspectors raised concerns about safety.

The CQC said during an inspection of the home, which is run by Premier Nursing Homes Limited, they found people's hydration needs were poorly managed by staff and residents' medicines were not always managed effectively or stored safely.

A Beechwood Care Home spokesperson said they were "deeply disappointed" with the latest CQC inspection report and had taken immediate action to address the issues raised.

CQC inspectors visited the home in December and February and focused on finding out whether the service was safe and well-led.

These areas were downgraded from good to inadequate.

Inspectors said they found Beechwood was not protecting people from avoidable harm, there were failures in incident reporting and learning, and staff reported a lack of support and fear of raising concerns.

However, the CQC said the care home generally created person-centred care plans that reflected people's needs.

They added that that leaders acted promptly when inspectors' concerns were raised.

The CQC has placed the service in special measures, which involve close monitoring to ensure people are safe while Premier Nursing Homes Limited make improvements.

A spokesperson for Beechwood Care Home said "a new home manager was put in place and additional support provided to ensure early improvements were made".

They said staff "continue to work hard" to ensure the high standards of care expected by their residents and their loved ones.

"As always, our highest priority is providing a safe, comfortable, and caring home for those who reside with us," the spokesperson added.

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