Of the numerous failings noted by inspectors, it was discovered that “necessary actions” had not been completed following a fire risk assessment that was conducted in March 2022. This included personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPS) either not being in place or not being kept up to date.
The CQC report also outlined that staffing levels at Lyndhurst Residential Care Home were not safe, which meant some residents did not “always receive timely support from staff.”
Author's quote
Care records were not always in place for people with mental health needs
“We reviewed two days' worth of call bell wait times and found 51 call bells took over 10 minutes to respond to, and 28 of these took over 20 mins to respond,” inspectors added.
It was found that the care needs of residents were not always assessed before they moved in, and care records were not always in place for people with mental health needs.
Officials also found that window restrictors “to prevent falls” in first-floor rooms had not been put in place.
Government guidelines
Government guidelines for fire risk assessments in residential care premises, including for the elderly or infirm, are relatively specific, with assessors asked to:
- identify fire hazards
- identify people at risk
- evaluate, remove, reduce, and protect from risk
- record, plan, inform, instruct, and train
- review
fire risks and preventative measures
Further guidance is also given on fire risks and preventative measures, fire-detection and warning systems, firefighting equipment and facilities, escape routes, emergency escape lighting, signs and notices, and fire protection equipment and installation.
As a result of the lack of remediation work following the fire risk assessment, the care home has since been referred to the local fire prevention team.