Under fire care home has improved, say inspectors

A care home criticised last year after inspectors found a "dirty kitchen" and a "fly infestation" has improved, a report says.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said the The Firs Residential Care Home in Tower Road, Little Downham, Cambridgeshire, was "no longer in breach of regulations".

Inspectors upgraded an overall rating from "inadequate" to "good" and confirmed the home had been "removed from special measures".

A report, which is due to be published, has outlined the latest findings after an inspection in July.

The home, run by Barrels UK Care Ltd and catering for older and younger adults and people with dementia and physical disabilities, was criticised in a report in December last year.

Inspectors noted, after an inspection in September 2023, poor infection control practices, poor record-keeping for accidents and inadequate staffing levels and said people were not given dignified care.

They had raised concerns about "how dirty the kitchen was" and found a "fly infestation".

But the latest report paints a brighter picture.

“It was encouraging to see improvements were made in response to concerns we raised," said Stuart Dunn, CQC deputy director of operations in the east of England.

"The service is now rated as good, and we have removed it from special measures as a result.

“The home has made significant progress in managing risks and safeguarding people.

"Staff now understand the importance of learning from incidents and taking action to reduce risks."

He said staff treated people with "dignity and respect" and added: "We also saw the home now had enough skilled and knowledgeable staff, with the right background checks at recruitment, to keep people safe.

“Everyone at The Firs... should be proud of the improvements they’ve made."

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