‘Inadequate’ village care home near East Grinstead is shut down

A village care home near East Grinstead - rated ‘inadequate’ by health regulators - has now closed down.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Horncastle Care Centre in Sharpthorne was de-registered by the Care Quality Commission following inspections in February and March last year.

In a report out this week, the commission said: “People were not safe and were at risk of avoidable harm. Some regulations were not met.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Horncastle Care Centre is run by Sussex Health Care which is currently at the centre of a police investigation following the deaths of 13 people at nine of its homes.

Horncastle Care Centre, Sharpthorne SUS-201007-145711001Horncastle Care Centre, Sharpthorne SUS-201007-145711001
Horncastle Care Centre, Sharpthorne SUS-201007-145711001

The Horncastle Care Centre provided nursing care for up to 20 people with neurological conditions, physical and learning disabilities and other complex health and communication needs.

In their report, commission inspectors said breaches of regulations in the safe care and treatment of residents had been found at a previous inspection in April 2018 and spot checks made last year showed the breaches continued.

“We also found new breaches of regulations relating to person centred care, dignity and consent.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They added:”Some people were at risk as some risk assessments were not in place” and “people were not consistently protected from abuse as concerns had not been identified by the provider.”

They also said the care home had failed to ensure that agency staff had the necessary training and that adaptations had not been made to ensure people could move independently around the home.

A spokesperson for Sussex Health Care said: “Following a review of our services earlier this year, we took the difficult decision to close Horncastle Care Centre as we continue to focus on delivering high-quality care for those we support in the most viable and sustainable manner possible.

“We approached the Care Quality Commission in March and since then we have worked closely and collaboratively with the regulator and the local authority to ensure the process was as sensitive and informed as possible.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We took the decision not to move anyone until it was safe to do so during the height of the Covid-19 crisis, and this has naturally impacted on the speed with which this process has taken place.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome residents from Horncastle Care Centre to our other homes across Sussex Health Care, as well as the staff who have also moved to our other homes.”

Related topics: