A BRADFORD care home catering mostly for people with dementia has been branded inadequate by quality inspectors.

When inspectors from the Care Quality Commission made an unannounced visit to Southfield Care Home in Belton Close, Great Horton, over two days in March they discovered no action plan had been put in place to address previous fire safety concerns.

In December last year, the home had been served with a fire enforcement notice after window restrictors failed to comply with the latest health and safety guidelines.

In a new report, inspectors found that the home which had 42 residents at the time, was still putting people’s health and safety at risk because it was also poorly maintained and not always cleaned effectively.

The registered manager’s office was also disorganised.

But inspectors did say they saw some good practices in how medicines were being managed and administered, even though prescribed drugs seemed to be given out on an “as required” basis, which was a concern.

People told inspectors they felt safe living there and there were enough staff to meet their needs but there was no formal process to keep checking that there were the necessary numbers of staff.

Neither was the recruitment systems robust enough to make sure only staff suitable to work with vulnerable people and in the caring profession were employed.

Some staff could have done with more training and there was nothing to show new staff had received induction training or that staff had received effective supervisions, said the report.

The relationship with the local district nursing team had broken down and the registered manager had not taken appropriate action to resolve issues and improve communication with them, inspectors noted.

However, staff did know residents well and worked hard to develop positive relationships. People said they were treated with respect and inspectors saw staff help to encourage and keep up people’s independence, privacy and dignity.

Now the home is in special measures it will stay under review and be inspected again within six months. If not enough improvements are made, the CQC could start action to stop the service from running.

A spokesman for the home said it was working with all the relevant agencies to address concerns highlighted in the CQC report, the majority of which had already been addressed.

“However, the home is pleased to note the report stated the day-to-day care for our residents was good."

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