'Deeply distressing situations' found at care home

A care home in Kent has been rated inadequate and placed under special measures to protect people following an inspection.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it saw "deeply distressing situations" at Galillee Care in Chatham, which compromised "people's dignity daily".

CQC inspectors found one person's incontinence pad was not changed regularly and people were forced to change themselves although it was physically difficult, while another person said staff treated them "roughly" and were rude.

The care home, which looks after people with physical disabilities or dementia, declined to comment.

"Staff weren't even meeting people's basic care needs or preferences," said Serena Coleman, CQC's deputy director of operations in Kent.

Unexplained bruising had not been investigated by the care home, she added.

The CQC said seven regulations were in breach, related to person-centred care, safeguarding people from abuse, safe care and treatment, staffing, consent, and management.

The watchdog found that "poor leadership had created a service systematically failing vulnerable people".

"Leaders did not support staff... or give them the information needed to do their job," said Ms Coleman, adding that staff were not given enough time between calls to support people "safely and compassionately".

The CQC said it has issued Galilee Care with a warning notice and that it will now monitor the service closely while it makes improvements.

The CQC added it has begun the process of taking more regulatory action, which Galilee Care has the right to appeal.

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