Staff member told to ‘keep mouth shut’
‘INADEQUATE’ HOME’S CULTURE OF SILENCE AND ABUSE RISK
A MEMBER of staff concerned about the treatment of residents at an “inadequate” was told to keep their mouth shut by management.
Now, inspectors have found that the residents were put “at risk of abuse” due to the failings of the management.
Parkside Nursing Home in Olive Grove, Forest Town, was rated “inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after an inspection in August.
The CQC’S report says that a culture of silenced staff, one of whom said they had been “told to keep my mouth shut”.
The watchdog said that not all staff felt they could raise concerns.
And when they did, they did not feel they were listened too.
One staff member told inspectors: “I don’t feel comfortable raising concerns.
“I have been told to keep my mouth shut.
“I am concerned for the wellbeing of people, but they (management) just don’t listen.”
Inspectors said they witnessed staff restrain a resident “against their will”.
“There were not robust systems in place to protect people from the risk of abuse,” they stated.
“We observed one incident which staff failed to recognise as abuse.
“A person who wanted and was able to get up and walk was physically restrained by staff and stopped against their will.
“There were no records in place to support this practice.
“This practice placed the person at risk of abuse.”
The home – which cares for 32 residents – received an overall “good” rating just five months ago.
However, since then the CQC had been made aware of various concerns, leading to the new inspection, which now leaves it rated as “inadequate” in every area other than “responsive”.
Inspectors were also directly critical of staff members, saying people felt some were “rough” and left residents without a call bell.
They also witnessed staff fail to follow Covid guidance.
Staff also left a resident in an “undignified position” on the floor for one hour and 35 minutes “with no staff enquiring about their wellbeing and walking past them”.
Worries were also expressed by residents’ relatives.
“I am not involved or consulted in my [relative’s] care,” claimed one.
“I get the same generic response every time I call. Every time I ask the home they say everything is OK but they cannot tell me anything about my [relative] – basic things like what they have had to eat that day.” Another claimed they were not told when things went wrong.
“I just can’t cope with it – everything is a fight. “Why can’t they phone me for a change when something goes wrong? “It’s the not knowing that’s the hardest and my [relative] can’t tell me so I have to keep fighting for them.”
A lack of managerial oversight of risk and care records, alongside mismanagement of medicines, were also noted in the report.
Parkside Nursing Home declined to comment when approached by the Post.
I don’t feel comfortable raising concerns. They (management) just don’t listen Parkside staff member