A STOURBRIDGE care home has been placed in special measures after being rated ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission.

Tudor Manor, in Brook Street, was given a scathing review by CQC inspectors in a report published on October 6, following an inspection on August 1.

The home, which cares for people aged 65 and over including those needing dementia care, was inspected after concerns were raised about the management of the service and people’s safety.

CQC inspectors undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of whether the home was safe, effective, responsive, and well-led and the facility was found to be in breach of regulations – having remained in breach since it received a ‘requires improvement’ rating in February 2022.

A report produced following the latest inspection criticised fire safety practices and said risks to people were not continually assessed and mitigated, there was a lack of oversight and monitoring of daily care, and safeguarding concerns were not consistently escalated to external professionals.

Safeguards to prevent the risk of abuse were not embedded, staff were not recruited safely, and checks were not carried out on employees to ensure vulnerable residents were safe.

Infection control measures were noted but inspectors were not assured shielding and social distancing rules were considered when residents shared bedrooms; while accidents and incidents, although recorded, were not analysed for trends.

The report, which can be read in full on the CQC website, said there was a lack of understanding around the Mental Capacity Act with people’s mental capacity not correctly assessed and care records lacking information about how to support people with specific health needs.

People receiving respite care had no care plans in place, staff were not fully trained, and the provider did not always explore the best way to communicate with people.

The report also noted that improvements were needed to ensure end of life documents were up-to-date and reflected people’s wishes.

Inspectors acknowledged that residents received their medications as prescribed, staff worked with external professionals to promote a partnership approach to care and that relatives were encouraged to visit loved ones.

They said residents were supported to eat and drink, were given choices and they enjoyed the food, but they said the service lacked person centred detail.

The report confirmed, as a result of the inspectors’ findings, that the overall rating for the home has gone from requires improvement to inadequate and it added: “We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements.

“We have found breaches in relation to safe care and treatment, safeguarding people from abuse and improper treatment, need for consent, fit and proper persons employed and good governance.

“The service is therefore in special measures.

“This means we will keep the service under review and will re-inspect within six months of the date we published this report to check for significant improvements.

“If the registered provider has not made enough improvement within this timeframe and there is still a rating of inadequate for any key question, we will take action in line with our enforcement procedures.”

If satisfactory improvements are not made the CQC said it would start processes to “prevent the provider from continuing to operate the service”.

If improvements are shown upon reinspection, the home will be taken out of special measures.

Thangaraj Senniappan, director of Margaret Homes Limited which runs Tudor Manor, said he had owned the home for just a few months when the inspection took place and he added: “Our main priority is to provide the best possible service to the residents in our care.

"It is unfortunate that we are in this situation since taking over Tudor Manor on May 4.

“As a new provider we are aware and understand the need to improve the service in line with current legislations.

“We would like to reassure our residents relatives and external stakeholders that we have been working closely with the local authority and Care Quality Commission to make the necessary changes at Tudor Manor.

“The issues highlighted such as fire concerns have been fully addressed. We have been working on other issues such as care planning, MCAs, consent - which have now been addressed.

“We have been working as well to upskill our staff.

“Our priority is to provide safe and best care for our residents and staff. Without a doubt we will achieve this.”