Horsham care home slated '˜inadequate' ... for the third time

Action was taken in September to halt admissions to The Laurels in Broadbridge Heath - which cares for up to 41 younger adults with learning disabilities, autism and physical disabilities - following reports of violence and abuse.

Health regulators from the Care Quality Commission said that staff and disabled residents were regularly attacked amd in some instances, residents were given overdoses of precribed medicines.

The Laurels is one of nine care homes run by Sussex Health Care which is currently at the centre of a police investigation following the deaths of 13 people.

The Laurels is made up of four ‘lodges’ one of which - Aspen Lodge - was closed by Sussex Health Care in June following an earlier inspection by the Care Quality Commission and an admission from Sussex Health Care of staff recruitment problems.

A new inspection was carried out in August and in a report published earlier this month, The Laurels was again deemed ‘inadequate.’ Inspectors said information indicated that all people at the service may have been at risk ‘due to on-going unsafe management of medicines.’

Inspectors had concerns over poor record keeping, information sharing and risk management relating to specific individuals’ care needs. “These concerns meant people were at a high risk of potential harm,” said the inspectors.

They added: “It was not always recorded when people had been supported to have their medicines. Staff had missed giving some people their required medicines. Stocks of medicines were not always recorded accurately.”

The inspectors said that Sussex Health Care took immediate action to lessen the risks when inspectors pointed them out.

In a separate inspection, the Care Quality Commission criticised another Sussex Health Care home. It rated The Grange, also known as Rapkyns Care Centre, as ‘requiring improvement.’

A spokesman for Sussex Health Care said: “We are working constructively with the Care Quality Commission and are taking on board their findings.

“We are committed to providing the highest quality of care for residents. Where areas of improvement have been identified we have been, and will continue to, put in place measures ensuring we deliver the best support possible.”