A CARE home has been placed into special measures after being rated as inadequate following an inspection.

Prospect House, in Rainhill, received the lowest possible rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The care home, on Blundells Lane, was visited by an inspector on January 10, 18 and 24. There were 22 people living at the home at the time of the inspection.

The CQC gave Prospect House an inadequate rating in its findings, published on February 27.

The home had been graded ‘Good’ in its previous inspection, which had taken place in 2018.

What the CQC's report said

In its latest inspection, Prospect House was rated inadequate in the categories of safety, effectiveness and whether the service was well-led.

Meanwhile, it was found to require improvement on whether the service was caring and for whether it was responsive.

In a report the CQC said: “People were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did not support them in the least restrictive way possible”.

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It was said: “People or their representative were not always actively involved in their care planning

Inspectors noted: “Not all health and safety checks were routinely carried out, we identified the lift was being operated without a valid Loler certificate.”

It was stated: “Medicines were not always safely stored and monitored, we found medication that required storing in the fridge left on the side. Protocols in place for as and when required medication lacked person-centred detail to enable staff to recognise when to utilise this medication, how much was required and its effectiveness.”

The CQC added: “We observed limited activities taking place throughout the inspection. People were not actively encouraged to participate and were observed to be sitting in the same place for long periods of time.”

Meanwhile, it was also said: “People's fluid and nutrition was not always accurately recorded as it was not documented at the time, records were often updated sometime after support had been provided and on the reliance of the carer being aware of what each person had drank and eaten”. It was added: “Not all people's dietary requirements were catered for”.

However, the CQC did note: “We observed positive and caring interactions between staff and people who lived in the home.

“Staff knew the people they supported well. Management was visible in the home and knew people well.”

The home has been placed in special measures and the CQC will keep the service under review and re-inspect the home within six months.

What Prospect House said

When contacted by the Star, a spokesperson for Prospect House said: “I would like to say I feel that the report was an unfair and inaccurate report, some of which was based on assumptions.

“We have not been inspected since 2018. During Covid there was very little support from the CQC but staff moved in in the first round of Covid to protect our residents.

“I can assure families that all our residents are cared for in a very compassionate and dignified way.

“Everything the CQC has brought up was actioned there and then.”

A CQC spokeswoman told the Star that providers receive a draft copy of their inspection report and have the opportunity to provide any feedback regarding accuracy.

She added “the provider submitted some factual accuracy responses in this instance and the report was then finalised and published”.