Huddersfield care home placed into special measures after inspection finds staffing issues
Thornhill Nursing Home has been rated 'inadequate' by the CQC
A Huddersfield care home has been rated inadequate and placed into special measures, after an inspection found serious issues with staffing.
CQC staff looked at Thornhill Nursing Home, run by Monshaw Limited, in November and December last year, with the death of a resident part of the reason for the visit.
The home provides accommodation for 42 people, some of whom are living with dementia.
Linda Hirst from the CQC said: “When we inspected Thornhill, it was concerning to see that poor leadership and a lack of staff had led to people being placed at risk of harm in a place they call home."
“People’s needs weren’t being met due to understaffing. Staff told us they felt rushed, stressed and unable to provide good care, or sit and chat properly with people.
"It was clear they wanted to do a great job but were let down by unrealistic workloads and poor leader management of staff time.
“It’s unacceptable that on several occasions, inspectors had to intervene and locate staff to assist people as no staff were available to help them.
“People told us they were worried about risks in the home, and nothing being done by leaders when they raised concerns.
"For example, people told us they were cold as the heating system wasn’t working effectively. Windows had been left open and people hadn’t been provided with sufficient bedding to keep them warm."
“We have told leaders where we expect to see rapid, and continued improvements and will continue to monitor the home closely to keep people safe during this time."
The overall rating of the home was moved down from 'good' to 'inadequate' following the inspection. The service will remain under review.
A spokesperson for Thornhill Care Home said:
"We are disappointed with our latest CQC report and took immediate action to address the issues raised."
"We have implemented an action plan of improvements, which has been shared with the CQC, and we are working hard to ensure we meet the high standards of care our residents, their loved ones, and we expect.
"We are also in the process of recruiting a new registered manager.
"Our highest priority is providing a safe, comfortable, and caring environment for those who reside with us, and we are confident our next inspection will reflect the improvements that have been made."