A BRADFORD care home has been rated 'inadequate' and placed in special measures following a visit from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Inspectors visited Southfield Care Home, on Belton Road, Great Horton, on three dates at the beginning of December 2020.

It was a focused, unannounced, inspection which looked at the key questions relating to safety and leadership. Both areas were rated as 'inadequate' and the overall rating of the home dropped to the same level from 'good'. However, the home is under new management and is working with the CQC to address the issues raised.

The report said: "Government guidance on the prevention and control of infection was not always followed. Some of the senior management team were wearing fabric masks. Where staff were wearing the required fluid resistant masks, they were not always wearing them properly. This posed a risk staff could transfer infection.

"Social distancing guidance was not consistently followed. Armchairs were placed side by side in the communal areas which meant people were seated close together. Government guidance on promoting good ventilation was not always followed. There was no evidence action had been taken to consider and reduce the impact to people and staff who may be disproportionately at risk of Covid-19."

Records showed some staff had not received any infection prevention and control training and others had not received this training for over a year, said the report.

It also said medicines were not always managed safely; risks to people's health and safety were not always managed properly and there was not always enough suitably trained and qualified staff to meet people's needs in a timely way. While the home supports people living with dementia, inspectors said only four staff had received training on dementia and in all cases, their training was overdue for renewal.

The report said: "Some of the language used by staff, for example, 'she's a two' when talking about someone who needed two staff to support them suggested a lack of understanding of a person centred approach to care."

Inspectors said thorough checks had not always been completed before people were employment - in two staff files there was no evidence DSB checks had been carried out. They also said there had been a "lack of consistent and effective management" since January 2020 and morale had been low due to constant changes of manager. However, the report outlined that staff said the new manager was approachable, regular staff meetings were held and the manager was "working to develop positive working relationships with external agencies". Manager Tracey Meggitt said she is working very closely with the CQC on the issues raised and "under new management we are certain we'll be fully compliant soon".