A BRADFORD care home has been rated ‘inadequate’ and plunged into special measures following a visit from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 

Inspectors raised major concerns about Cooper House Care Home, on Cooper Lane, which was rated ‘good’ at its last inspection back in 2018.

The inspection, carried out across seven dates in May and June, was initially a focused one for the CQC to follow up on specific concerns it had received about the home about falls and risk management, but the scope was then widened.

The report said people were “not safe” and “at risk of avoidable harm”. Inspectors said staff were not following guidance to keep people safe. 

The report said: “One person, assessed at high risk of choking, was given food which was not compatible with the soft diet they were prescribed.

“Another person’s care records showed they were at high risk of falls and advised staff to encourage the person to use their walking frame and ensure it was in easy reach.

“We observed the person walking around all day and they had no access to a walking frame.”

Concerns were also raised about the environment people were living in. Locks had been removed from some bedroom doors, leaving a hole in the doors, while a glass panel was missing from a fire door in a corridor.

The report added: “Furniture in some people’s bedrooms was broken, damaged or had parts missing which posed a risk of injury or harm to the individual.

“Not all accidents and incidents were reported, investigated or dealt with appropriately.”
Inspectors said they were “not assured” that PPE was being used properly, nor were they assured the home was making sure infection outbreaks could be effectively managed or prevented – or that shielding and social distancing rules were being met.

The report also said that staff did not always recognise abuse and that inspectors “witnessed staff using unlawful restraint with one person”. This prompted the CQC to make a referral to the local safeguarding team. 

Meanwhile, the inspection found some staff “did not have the skills or competencies to meet the needs of people living with dementia”. 

People’s experiences of staff varied; while some staff were very kind and caring, others “lacked warmth and empathy”, said the report.

“We saw people who were visibly upset and shouting, pacing the floors. Some staff ignored them and other staff were heard telling people repeatedly to sit down or calm down which did not ease people’s anxiety,” inspectors said.

The report added: “We saw some people going into other people’s bedrooms and lying on their beds.  Staff were aware this was happening but took no action.

“Some people’s bedrooms were unclean, contained furniture which was damaged and contained little or no personal effects. Some people looked unkempt.”

Inspectors said “significant” shortfalls had been found and added: “There were breaches in relation to safeguarding, risk management, infection prevention and control, staffing, dignity and respect.”

However, the report said the home had been “responsive to the inspection findings, took action during and after the inspection and shared plans to improve their systems and processes”. 

A spokesman for Cooper House, which is run by the Priory Group, said: “We take the CQC’s findings extremely seriously, and we have made comprehensive improvements to the home.

"Care staff are receiving further guidance and support from senior management and appropriate professionals.

"We have taken steps immediately to ensure that guidance around COVID-19 prevention and PPE is followed correctly.

"We have also reviewed and made changes to some care processes, such as care planning.

"Some new furniture has been purchased, and a large-scale refurbishment is about to commence.

"Our residents’ wellbeing and safety is our main priority as we move forward to make further changes, whilst working closely with the CQC and residents’ relatives. Priory Adult Care takes pride in delivering high quality services, and of the 240 care homes we operate, 90.5 per cent of them are rated Good or Better/Compliant with regulators, compared with the national benchmark of 85 per cent.”