Deaths probe home given ‘poor’ rating (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Deaths probe home given ‘poor’ rating

12:50am Thursday 2nd July 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

A Bradford care home at the centre of an investigation into standards of care has been given a zero star rating after a detailed inspection.

Weaver Court in Idle, which is home to 19 residents with learning disabilities, was examined by the Care Quality Commission in April.

The resulting report – published today – shows the home to have failed in every category and details 17 specific areas which need improvement. The zero rating means its overall performance was judged to be poor.

The probe followed a snap inspection in March after staff at the home, which is run by Bradford District Care Trust and Bradford Council, flagged up problems.

Since the full inspection in April, a further unannounced visit has been carried out by CQC inspectors, and the results are expected to be made public shortly.

Simon Large, chief executive of the Care Trust, said the report due out in the next few weeks showed that staff and management had turned the home around in ten weeks and that all the requirements had now been met.

He said: “Our staff have worked extremely hard to ensure changes are made for the better at Weaver Court. We have worked closely with residents, their families and carers throughout these changes and huge improvements have been made.

“I regret that the service was not of the standard people in Bradford and Airedale expect at the time of the inspection in April.”

Moira Wilson, the Council’s strategic director for adult and community services, said: “As soon as concerns were expressed by the Care Quality Commission we carried out investigations and agreed an action plan with the Care Trust to improve the learning disability service at Weaver Court.

“We recognise that a new approach to the way services are commissioned and provided is needed. The Council and NHS Bradford and Airedale have therefore started the procurement process to look for providers who are able to extend the range of learning disability services that are available in the district, which will give people with learning disabilities and their carers more choice.”

It emerged earlier this year that three residents at the home died over a six-month period last year.

The first was found by the coroner to be from natural causes and the second was linked to ongoing health problems. The third death, however, is still being investigated by the Care Trust and Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Councillor Dale Smith, the Council’s executive member for social care, said: “I much regret the slippage in the quality of services at Weaver Court and I welcome the way in which the Care Trust and its partners have responded.

“I am reassured by the Care Quality Commission random inspection report which shows that things are now getting back on track.”

But Councillor Paul Flowers, the Labour group’s spokesman for adult services, called for an independent inquiry.

He said: “While improvements are to be welcomed they are not an excuse to sweep past events under the carpet.”

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, the Liberal Democrat group leader, who first highlighted the issue in May, said: “This still doesn’t answer the question as to why a home has gone from being well-regulated at its inspection in November to a place that has clearly failed on every level.”