Updated 18 October 2024
Date of assessment 20 November to 11 December 2024. Barton Lodge is a care home providing accommodation and nursing care to up to 45 people. The service provides support to older people with a physical disability and people living with dementia. The service was in breach of legal regulations in relation people’s safe care and treatment, governance systems and person-centred care. The provider lacked effective systems for managing safety alerts and medicine recalls, which posed risks to individuals. Although incidents were managed internally and lessons were shared, some safety concerns were not escalated to the local authority for independent review. Care plans and risk assessments often lacked sufficient detail, increasing health and safety risks as staff did not always have the necessary information to provide safe care. Expired food items were found in communal fridges, which staff failed to identify, risking foodborne illnesses. Medicines were not always administered in a timely manner, potentially compromising their effectiveness or causing adverse effects. Staffing levels received mixed feedback, with some relatives expressing concerns about weekend availability and response times. Care plans were not consistently updated according to changing needs. However, staff were trained and safely recruited, and they wore appropriate personal protective equipment. Regular cleaning was conducted, and staff effectively responded to call bells. In instances where CQC have decided to take civil or criminal enforcement action against a provider, we will publish this information on our website after any representations and/ or appeals have been concluded.