Torbay care home put into special measures

Staff failed to keep residents safe

The company that owns a Paignton residential home which was put in special measures amid concerns for safety has issued an apology.

“We sincerely apologise to anyone who felt let down,” it said in a statement.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has downgraded the overall rating for Burrow Down Residential Home from ‘good’ to ‘inadequate’ and has placed it into special measures ‘to protect people’.

The move follows an inspection in November and December.

Burrow Down, in Preston Down Road, is a care home for autistic people and people with a learning disability. Thirteen people were living there at the time of the inspection which followed safeguarding concerns and issues identified at other services operated by Burrow Down Support Services.

Inspectors found nine breaches of regulations relating to providing people with person-centred care, safeguarding people from abuse and improper treatment, consent, safe care and treatment, safe recruitment, staffing, notification of incidents, dignity and the overall management of the service. 

Special measures involves close monitoring to ensure people are safe while they make improvements.

Stefan Kallee, CQC’s deputy director of adult social care for the South West, said:  “When we inspected Burrow Down we found a poor culture where leaders didn’t ensure people were safe or consistently treated with dignity and respect.

“Leaders also hadn’t ensured staff understood the importance of choice, control, independence and inclusion for improving people’s quality of life. It was clear that staff at all levels didn’t understand how to deliver high-quality support for autistic people or people with a learning disability. 

“As a result of this, people weren’t being cared for in line with regulations and best practice guidance.”

The CQC said the service was restricting some people’s freedom by not allowing them to leave the home without staff, and by using door alarms and audio monitors to keep track of their movements. 

Inspectors were also concerned by the service’s failure to manage risk. One person with diabetes had it detailed in their care plan that staff should seek medical advice if their blood sugar levels went above or below a specific range. Records showed this had happened on 29 occasions when staff hadn’t raised concerns, placing that person at risk of rapid health deterioration. 

Mr Kallee added: “We’ve told Burrow Down’s leaders exactly where they must make immediate and significant improvements and we’re monitoring the home closely to keep people safe in the meantime.” 

A spokesman for Burrow Down said the home acknowledged the CQC’s findings.

In a statement, the company said: “We have taken the findings extremely seriously. All remedial actions identified in the inspection report have now been fully implemented, and we are confident that the service is currently operating in line with regulatory requirements and best practice.

“We are naturally very disappointed that, at the time of the inspection, we did not meet the high standards we expect of ourselves and that the people we support and their families rightly deserve. We sincerely apologise to anyone who felt let down.

“Since the inspection, significant improvements have been made to leadership oversight, staff practice, safeguarding arrangements and governance systems. These changes are now embedded, closely monitored, and subject to ongoing quality assurance.

“We are now on a much stronger footing and look forward to being re‑inspected, where we are confident we will be able to demonstrate the improvements made and our commitment to achieving and sustaining a ‘Good’ rating from the Care Quality Commission”