CQC say Leeds care home is understaffed and poorly managed, putting residents "at risk of harm"

The latest inspection of Wykebeck Court Care Home, on York Road, by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found there are not enough staff placing people "at risk of harm".

- > Mum smuggled spice into Armley jail using child's drawing hidden inside her bra

The Bupa run care home provides nursing and personal care for up to 84 people, some of whom may be living with dementia.

At the time of the inspection in January 2019, 45 people were using the service.

The report, published on April 3, 2019, criticises the home over staffing levels stating that too few staff, and the poor management of them has led to patients being put at risk.

A relative told inspectors their family member had become distressed while waiting 10 minutes for staff to respond to them and that staff were not familiar with their family member's care.

The report said: "Staff did not offer any reassurance or emotional support to a person who appeared visibly distressed."

Inspectors saw employees not following guidance in a person's care plan and were told by staff that they hadn't had time to read them.

The report says staff appeared under pressure and didn't seem to have relationships with patients, who appeared 'withdrawn'.

They said: "Staff appeared very busy and we observed very little meaningful interaction or activity between staff and people.

"People sat for a long period of time in one of the lounges with little or no interaction from staff. People appeared withdrawn.

"One person asked to go to the toilet and was asked to wait for a few minutes for another member of staff to become available."

- > Thugs kill hedgehog and her three babies by stamping on them in Yorkshire

General management of the service was not good enough according to the CQC who were told by staff that they often went without breaks and found it difficult to care for people.

The report continues: "Some areas of the home were not staffed and staff did not always respond to people who needed care and support and important duties such as pressure ulcer care were not always completed and we found call bells sounded continually."

The CQC were also concerned about resident's privacy and dignity weren't always respected having been told by a member of staff: "I've walked in when people are not covered up during personal care; sometimes the doors are not closed."

In conclusion the CQC said: "The service was not well managed.

"We consistently found there was a difference in understanding in how the management team believed care was being delivered and actual staff practise.

"As a result, people were placed at risk of harm and not having their needs met."

The CQC gives an overall rating based on five criteria, the safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership of the service.

Wyebeck Court was rated as "requires improvement" for the first four and "inadequate" in its leadership.