Panorama probe care home out of special measures
BBCA care home that was the subject of a BBC Panorama investigation has been taken out of special measures.
Addison Court in Crawcrook, Gateshead, houses more than 50 elderly people, some who are living with dementia.
A previous inspection in November 2023 found the care home was "not safe" for residents and "people were not always safeguarded from abuse and avoidable harm".
However, following an inspection in March and April, it was rated as good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with inspectors saying leaders and staff "should be proud of the wide range of improvements".
In 2023, employees told an undercover reporter they felt "exploited" and prevented from leaving by owners at the time, Prestwick Care, which denied any suggestion of systematic wrongdoing or bad practice.
Addison Court is now run by Malhotra Care Homes Limited.
'Above and beyond'
Improvements meant the service was no longer in breach of regulation, inspectors said.
Staff spoke positively about the culture and said they were supported in their roles, the watchdog added.
CQC deputy director of operations in the north Victoria Marsden said: "We were pleased to see that leaders had taken on board our feedback from the previous inspection.
"During the inspection, people told us staff always went above and beyond to ensure they were happy."
Leaders had created a positive culture which meant staff were able to provide "much safer" care, inspectors found.
The overall rating for the home, as well as the areas of safe and well-led, were moved up from inadequate to good. The areas of caring, effective and responsive have moved up from requires improvement to good.
Malhotra Care Homes Limited has been contacted for comment.