November 14, 2018 1.43 pm This story is over 64 months old

‘Inadequate’ care home near Gainsborough shut down

Several concerns were raised

Blenheim Care Centre. Photo: HousingCare.org

A Gainsborough care home has been closed and residents moved after it failed to improve on damning inspection findings.

Southwark Park Nursing Homes Limited is the provider of Blenheim Care Centres in Hemswell Cliff near Gainsborough.

It was rated ‘Inadequate’ in March, when inspectors highlighted failings in the standard of care and placed it into special measures. The home was revisited in October, however owners made the decision to close the facility before the results were made public.

There were 18 residents at the home at the time of the closure including 11 which Lincolnshire County Council were responsible for funding.

The last residents were moved out on November 9.

Executive member for adult care at Lincolnshire County Council, Councillor Patricia Bradwell OBE, said: “We have ensured residents affected are receiving the right care and support and have helped both them and their families in providing alternative arrangements.

“Situations of this nature are rare and I want to reassure people that anyone with care needs will have access to the right services to support them. If anybody is concerned about any issues regarding the care either they or a member of their family is receiving, please contact 01522 782155.”

Unannounced inspection

Blenheim Care Centres is a nursing and residential care home for up to 80 people in two buildings – Blenheim House and Blenheim Lodge.

The home consistent of 35 bedrooms and some flats. It caters for people aged 18 and above and who have physical disabilities and/or neurological conditions.

The lodge was closed on the day of the unannounced inspection by CQC, which took place on March 14 2018. The report was published in June 2018 here.

On the day of that inspection 19 people were living at the home, with 10 of those people receiving nursing care.

Among the things highlighted by CQC was an empty room where there was bird seed and feathers. No deep clean had been completed and the room smelt strongly of urine, while there were also flies in the room.

CQC carried out further checks at Blenheim Care Centres during an inspection in October and will publish a report of the latest finding when their check is complete.

A spokesperson for CQC said: “We are aware that the owners of Blenheim Care Centres have decided to close the service. Prior to this CQC had concerns regarding the home and had been working with the local authority with regard to it.

“CQC’s last inspection took place in October. A report of our full findings from this inspection will be published in due course.”

An unannounced comprehensive inspection was carried out in August 2016 where the CQC identified five breaches of the Health and Social Care Act. Two further inspections in September and November of 2017 found some action had been taken, but there was not sufficient progress. It was inspected again in February 2017 and placed into special measures. At an inspection in September 2017 it was again rated as ‘inadequate’ and refined in special measures before it was reinspected in March 2018.

Reporters contacted Blenheim Care Centres and its provider Southwark Park Nursing Homes Limited, but there was no reply by the time of publication.