Care home in special measures over 'poor management'

A Kent care home has been placed in special measures after inspectors found "poor management and a deterioration in the level of care".

Hillbeck Residential Care Home in Bearsted near Maidstone has been rated "inadequate" by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after an inspection in February.

Inspectors found residents' basic care needs were not always being met, with some patients not having toothbrushes in their rooms, and criticised leaders allowing a "closed culture" to develop where staff did not feel able to speak up.

Charing Healthcare, which runs Hillbeck, said it would "continue to work at rectifying the issues raised".

An inspection on 4 and 5 February found a number of falls by residents had gone unnoticed, with more than half of these taking place during the night shift.

However, inspectors said there was "no evidence" that leaders had considered changing how the home was staffed to better protect residents.

Inspectors also found bathroom cabinets with prescription medicine and hygiene products which were "unlocked, rusted casings were chipped and paint was peeling off".

Serena Coleman, CQC deputy director of operations for the south, said: "We've told Hillbeck Residential Care Home where widespread and immediate improvements are needed by issuing four warning notices.

"We're monitoring the service closely while these necessary changes are made, and we will not hesitate to take further action to keep people safe."

The care home has been placed in special measures, having previously been rated good, meaning it will be kept under close review to ensure improvements are made.

A spokesperson for Charing Healthcare said it was "extremely disappointed" by what had been found in the report.

It added: "We have produced a plan of action and will continue to work through this with our staff team. We have already made good progress."

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