Dried faeces and urine stains found at care home inspection near Bristol

Dried faeces, urine smeared across walls and unacceptable hygiene are just some of the serious issues that have been raised at an inspection of a care home in Keynsham.

The UK’s independent health and social care regulator, the Care Quality Commission, visited Hillsborough House in April to carry out an unannounced inspection, after safeguarding concerns were brought to its attention.

The care home, run by charity, Freeways, in Keynsham, provides personal care to autistic people and people with a learning disability, people with mental health needs, physical disabilities, sensory impairment and older people.

But inspectors found serious safeguarding, management and hygiene issues during their visit, which they said had been undermined by poor leadership.

One client was found to be at risk of weight loss after no risk assessment or review of their care was made; another client’s ear spray, which should have been sprayed in each ear once a week, was only administered daily over 27 days.

Another client’s bedroom was described as malodorous and smelling strongly of urine, and their toilet stained black.

One bedroom had dried faeces on the floor and chest of drawers, as well as soil and discarded food wrappers.

More generally, inspectors found that clients had mixed experiences of being supported to access activities, hobbies, and interests.

Records showed some people hadn’t been supported to access the community for prolonged periods of time.

Clients also told inspectors that they would like to consistently do more fun activities and they don’t get out very often.

Speaking about the findings, Rebecca Bauers, CQC’s director for people with a learning disability and autistic people, said: “Poor leadership had undermined the standards of care people were receiving, and they weren’t safe because they were at risk of avoidable harm.

“We saw basic issues like people’s safety in the event of a fire not being considered because the provider didn’t carry out things like required fire drills every three months, despite being told previously we had concerns.

“We saw that despite the best efforts of staff, who were kind and caring, both they and people who called Hillsborough House home, were being let down by poor leadership, which impacted on every area of their daily life.

“The culture at the service wasn’t dignified, with people being expected to live in a dirty, unpleasant smelling environment that posed an infection risk.

“People’s oral hygiene wasn’t being supported and as a result, in one case, urgent emergency treatment was required. This was unacceptable.”

Hillsborough House previously had an overall rating of good, but this was dropped to inadequate following the inspection, as was the rating for how safe and well-led the service is.

The service has since been placed in special measures, and the CQC has issued two warning notices to management.

Inspectors said the service would need to make “rapid and widespread improvements in how they are managing the safe care and treatment of the people living there, as well as the governance of the service.”

“CQC will closely monitor the service during this time to keep people safe. If CQC don’t see sufficient improvement we will consider what further action to take.”

Bristol24/7 has reached out to Freeways for comment.

Main photo: Google

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