Care home in special measures after rules breached

A care home for people with autism and learning disabilities has been put in special measures after inspectors found a "poor culture" and serious failings in safety and leadership.

Burrow Down Residential Home in Paignton, which supports 13 adults, was downgraded from good to inadequate following its latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.

The watchdog found nine breaches of regulations including failures around safeguarding, consent, recruitment, safe care and treatment. Inspectors said people were at risk because staff did not always understand their needs and health concerns were sometimes ignored.

The BBC has contacted Burrow Down Support Services for comment.

The report raised concerns about unlawful restrictions, including people not being allowed to leave the home without staff and the use of door alarms and audio monitors. Inspectors said staff had not assessed whether people had the mental capacity to consent to these restrictions.

A person with diabetes had blood sugar readings outside a safe range on 29 occasions without staff seeking medical help, despite this being clearly written into their care plan.

The CQC has downgraded the areas of safe, effective and well-led from good to inadequate. Caring and responsive were not re-inspected and remain rated as good.

Stefan Kallee, the CQC's south west deputy director of adult social care, said: "When we inspected Burrow Down Residential Home, we found a poor culture where leaders didn't ensure people were safe or consistently treated with dignity and respect. Leaders also hadn't ensured staff understood the importance of choice, control, independence and inclusion for improving people's quality of life."

He added: "It was clear that staff at all levels didn't understand how to deliver high-quality support for autistic people or people with a learning disability."

Families also reported poor communication. One relative was told about an incident involving their loved one but said they never received a clear explanation.

The CQC said the home would now be closely monitored while the provider works on improvements.

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