A HEALTH watchdog found a care home is still failing to meet standards, five months after being told to improve.

The Care Quality Commission has published another critical report on Queens Park Court care home in Goldington Crescent, Billericay, where it found older people wearing dirty clothes, with not all their care needs being met and a lack of input from them on what was going in their home.

The report said action was still needed in four out of five areas:

  • Respecting and involving people who use services
  • Care and welfare of people who use services
  • Staffing
  • Assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision.

The home, which was transferred to private ownership from Essex County Council’s hands in 2006, provides care and accommodation for up to 40 older residents, some of whom have dementia.

A previous CQC visit in November last year found it was not compliant and actions were needed to bring about changes by March 31.

But the latest report states: “We visited Queens Park Court care home again in April. We found the provider remained non-compliant with regard to all four regulations.”

Residents were said to look “ungroomed” and “some gentlemen had not been supported to shave properly”.

Staff were not always aware of residents’ care management plans and although their interaction with people living in the home had “improved a little,” this was when providing care and support, rather than spending specific social time with them.

Shortfalls were found in assessment, planning and delivery of care which could have a “major impact” on people’s welfare.

Inspectors also found there were not sufficient numbers of staff to meet individual needs of people in the home and an effective system to monitor and assess the quality of services at the home was not provided.

Residents’ feedback for the report included: “There is nothing to do. No one has anything to say to you and it feels awkward, so I stay in my room.”

Another said: “I have never been asked if I’m happy here or if I want anything to change”.

The report has just been published.

The CQC will now be informed when the actions have been carried out by the home.

The CQC will monitor its progress to meet standards and report back on its judgments.

Rushcliffe Care Ltd, which owns the care home, declined to comment.