Hull care home where residents were sick of jam sandwiches slammed as inadequate

People at the Pearson Park Care Home also complained their meals were brought out cold and staff did not offer to cut food up during the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) inspection.

Inspectors also found parts of the home were dirty, some fire doors did not close properly and some staff did not have enough training to help with falls or diabetes.

The care home declined to comment on the CQC’s findings.

The home, in Pearson Park, remains in special measures following the inspection in May.

A total of 14 people were living at the home when inspectors visited, some with dementia and other mental health conditions which required support.

The report stated the process to bar it from providing services would begin if there is not enough improvement by the next inspection, due in the next six months.

Findings in the CQC’s report included the home’s provider failing to identify, assess and act on risks to keep people safe.

Staff recorded food and fluid intake but they were not reviewed or monitored to make sure people received enough.

People were not offered dishes in line with the home’s menu and inspectors found the choice of meals was often repetitive.

A report quoted one person living there who said: “I’m sick of having jam sandwiches.”

Another said: “My meal was cold at lunchtime.”

Inspectors found that several fire doors did not close properly and one resident’s evacuation plan would put them at risk in an emergency because it did not reflect their needs.

Safe hygiene practices were not promoted to stop infections while some parts of the home and its equipment was visibly dirty.

Other parts of the home were not well-maintained with inspectors finding unclean flooring and paintwork.

The home was understaffed and employment history and right to work checks were not always done when new recruits joined.

Current staff were aware of their responsibilities to safeguard people living in the home and visiting was supported in line with Government guidelines.

While improvements were made on giving medicines in time, inspectors found more needed to be done to follow prescriber’s instructions.

The report stated: “The provider had made limited improvements at the service since the latest inspection and people continued to receive unsafe and ineffective care.

“Improvements found at the last inspection had not been sustained or embedded, this led to additional breaches in regulation.

“People were not always treated with dignity and did not receive care in line with their needs and preferences.

“There was a lack of effective leadership and the provider’s values were not always followed by staff.”