Isle of Wight care home Little Hayes breached regulations

Little Hayes care home, Totland Bay <i>(Image: Paul Blackley)</i>
Little Hayes care home, Totland Bay (Image: Paul Blackley)
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An Isle of Wight care home has been found in breach of legal regulations relating to issues such as safe care, consent and good governance.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) told Little Hayes on Totland Bay’s Church Hill it must improve in a report published on February 19, citing ‘widespread failures’ which have exposed people to ‘serious risks’ of avoidable harm.

Inspectors graded the home ‘requires improvement’ across four categories: overall, safe, effective and well-led.

However, Little Hayes has previously been marked ‘good’ in respect of two other CQC ratings, caring and responsive, which were not assessed in the recent inspection.

The report said: “Furniture in the first-floor lounge was dirty, including an armchair with a large tear, and a cushion in the laundry room was stained with faeces.

“Widespread failures to maintain a safe environment exposed people to serious risks of avoidable harm, including falls from height, burns, unsafe evacuation and injury from unsecured or hazardous items.

“Staff did not always follow the correct procedures for seeking and recording informed consent in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

“Leaders did not consistently demonstrate sufficient capability to identify and address risks in a timely way.

“Significant concerns relating to medicines management, environmental safety, infection prevention and control, consent and care planning were not identified or effectively managed until highlighted by inspectors.”

The Mental Capacity Act is designed to protect and empower people who may lack the mental capacity to make their own decisions about care and treatment, according to the NHS.

It applies to decisions relating to day-to-day matters like what to wear or weekly shopping, or serious life-changing decisions such as major operations.

On the plus side, the CQC mentioned positive feedback from relatives who said they felt their loved ones were safe and residents told inspectors they were happy in the home.

The CQC also noted staff and management team members were kind, caring and respectful in their interactions with people.

In addition, the report referred to engagement in several activities such as resident’s meetings, arts and crafts and different denominations of church services.

Little Hayes’s provider, Oakray Care (Little Hayes) Ltd has been contacted for a comment.

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