Village care homes near Horsham remain in ‘special measures’ after again being rated ’inadequate’

Two care homes on the edge of Horsham - owned by the same company - are remaining in ‘special measures’ after again being rated ’inadequate’ by health regulators.
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The Laurels care home in Broadbridge Heath has been in special measures for breaching regulations since 2015 and Orchard Lodge care home in Warnham has been in special measures for the past three years.

Both homes are run by Sussex Health Care which is currently at the centre of a years-long police inquiry following the deaths of 13 people at nine of its homes. However police have now closed their investigation into two of those who died.

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One of the recently-inspected homes - Orchard Lodge - has been fined £1,250 ‘as an alternative to prosecution’ to comply with a condition of registration.

Orchard Lodge care home in Guildford Road, Warnham SUS-200818-112313001Orchard Lodge care home in Guildford Road, Warnham SUS-200818-112313001
Orchard Lodge care home in Guildford Road, Warnham SUS-200818-112313001

Both Orchard Lodge and The Laurels are now being kept under review and are required to submit monthly reports to the Care Quality Commission and will be re-assessed within six months.

In a report just out, commission inspectors said that a spot check carried out last November at Orchard Lodge showed that “risks to people were not always adequately assessed, monitored and managed causing or exposing people to risk of harm.”

The home, at the time it was inspected, was looking after 14 young adults with autism, learning and physical disabilities.

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They found that residents did not have enough say in their care and didn’t have support with ‘meaningful activities.’

Under’n ormal circumstances,’ said the inspectors, their findings ‘would have resulted in enforcement activity’ but because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was acting ‘proportionately.’

In a report on The Laurels - which looks after adults aged under 65 - inspectors noted that it was “the sixth consecutive inspection where breach of regulations concerning safe care and treatment was found.”

Restrictions on new admissions to The Laurels have been imposed.

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A spokesman for Sussex Health Care said: “Like all good quality and responsible care providers, we strive to improve all the time, and we will continue to do so. “Since these inspections took place – one of which was nearly a year ago – we have enhanced the support we deliver, ensuring our residents live in a safe and caring environment.

“Most recently, this has been exemplified by the hard work and professionalism of our staff teams during the Covid pandemic, whose efforts and actions meant that every resident with us at these homes was safe during this difficult time.

“We are pleased to continue to receive very positive independent feedback from the families and friends of those who use the services.”

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