Case Study
Swift intervention ushers in new era a for struggling care home post-CQC inspection
The CQC has various powers of enforcement but one of the most serious is section 31 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Act which gives the CQC the power to urgently suspend a provider’s registration or to vary/remove certain conditions of registration. This is at the highest end of its enforcement powers and, if taken, urgent action applies immediately.
Fulcrum was recently called into action after a care home found themselves in a precarious situation following a recent CQC inspection that saw them handed a section 31.
What issue did the care home have?
The inspection unearthed a range of regulatory breaches that left the CQC contemplating the possible closure of the facility. Notably, the report identified deficiencies in risk management related to a resident’s sexual disinhibitions, broken nurse call bells, and unresolved actions from a previous fire risk assessment. These findings raised concerns about resident wellbeing and the care provider’s reputation.
How did Fulcrum Care help?
In response to the urgency of the situation, Fulcrum swiftly allocated an experienced consultant to orchestrate a comprehensive intervention. Collaborating closely with the care home’s manager, the consultant formulated a multifaceted action plan to address the challenges identified.
First, a robust risk assessment framework was implemented to ensure resident safety remained paramount. Detailed care plans and risk assessments were created, aimed at effectively managing risks, especially around the area of concern associated with a resident’s sexual disinhibitions.
An in-depth audit of accidents and incidents was undertaken to identify cases warranting reporting to the CQC. The lessons learned from this were shared with the care home’s staff to enhance incident management protocols. Whilst, the consultant also organised further staff meetings to foster collaboration and the implementation of a staff file audit tracker aimed to uncover further areas for operational enhancement.
Additionally, the care provider outsourced to a company to correct the persistent issue of malfunctioning nurse call bells. Fulcrum closely monitored the situation to ensure the bells were now functioning correctly and were content that the necessary corrective actions had been taken.
What were the results for the care home?
The consultant’s presence provided reassurance not only to the CQC inspector but also to the care provider, instilling confidence in the facility’s commitment to rectify identified issues. A structured action plan for addressing the concerns outlined in the section 31 notice was established, encompassing carefully developed care plans, risk assessments, and incident management protocols. This is still a work in progress and weekly updates are being forwarded to the CQC to give them the reassurance that the issues identified are being addressed.
If your care home needs help from a team of dedicated care experts, please get in touch.