Care home is ranked 'inadequate' for second time

The Orchards Care Home in Wilmer Drive, Heaton, had 14 residents when Care Quality Commission inspectors paid unannounced visits in April and May this year to see if the home had improved enough since September last year.

But inspectors found there had not been “sufficient enough progress” and the CQC is now considering what enforcement action to take. Action could result in the home being shut. The catalogue of failings listed by inspectors included a dirty medicine trolley, out of date medication being used, stained furniture, lights not working, and call bells tied up so people would not have been able to reach them if they had fallen.

A filing cabinet in the dining room containing people’s care records was unlocked.

Doors to the communal bathroom and communal toilet on the ground floor of the home did not have any locks, and despite CQC concerns on the last inspection about insufficient management arrangements, inspectors were told the registered manager still only visited the home about once every couple of weeks. The home had also failed to display its previous inadequate CQC rating, as required by law, on its website and in the home itself.

“At the last comprehensive inspection this provider was placed into special measures by CQC. This inspection found that there was not enough improvement to take the provider out of special measures. The CQC is now considering the appropriate regulatory response to resolve the problems we found,” said the report.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “There are currently eight Bradford Council-funded placements at The Orchards. As with any home in the district which is rated as inadequate, we will be reviewing the suitability of these placements and working with the home to support them in making the required improvements.”

No-one from home owners Baybury Ltd was available for comment when the Telegraph & Argus contacted The Orchards yesterday.