A Sandown care home previously placed into special measures after whistleblower concerns has once again been rated inadequate by inspectors, who uncovered serious failings, including residents losing significant weight, staff allegedly being told not to contact regulators, and vulnerable people left isolated with little interaction.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has downgraded Autumn House Residential Home from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘inadequate’ following an inspection carried out between 10th February and 27th March this year.
The latest findings mark a major setback for the home, which Island Echo first reported on in February last year when it was placed into special measures following whistleblower concerns over residents’ safety and standards of care.
Inspectors later said in December 2025 that some improvements had been made, although the service still ‘required improvement’. However, the regulator now says standards have deteriorated further.
Autumn House, which provides accommodation and nursing care for older people, including residents living with dementia and mental health conditions, has again been placed into special measures and is now subject to restrictions on new admissions.
The CQC found Autumn House remained in breach of regulations relating to safe care, consent and governance, with new failings also identified around staffing and person-centred care.
Inspectors raised serious concerns about a ‘closed culture’ at the home, saying records showed staff who spoke up were ‘not protected in line with whistle blowing principles’ and managers had allegedly told workers not to contact the CQC.
Neil Cox, CQC’s Deputy Director for Adult Social Care in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, has said:
“When we visited Autumn House, we were concerned to find people still weren’t receiving care that was safe or tailored to their needs. Leaders hadn’t tackled a poor culture at the service and staff didn’t feel able to speak up or raise concerns.”
Inspectors also found residents had lost significant amounts of weight without GPs being informed, while one resident requiring a modified diet was given food of the wrong consistency, placing them at risk of aspiration pneumonia.
The report additionally detailed safeguarding failings involving a hospital transfer, concerns over medication records and fire safety procedures, and residents spending long periods isolated with ‘minimal engagement from staff’.
A newly appointed manager who started during the inspection was praised for taking immediate action to begin addressing some of the concerns identified.
Absolutely disgusting yet again another supposedly (care) home failing the most vulnerable people shame on you these people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
Shocking, what else can one say.
Time for families to step up and do their bit, can’t rely
on UNCARING care homes.
Kennels look after dogs better.
Dosent sound brilliant but no mention of actual poor care just not to CQC rules on method. They usually make mountains out of mole hills and shut much needed homes down. I doubt if any are all bad. What CQC should do is put one their clever clogs managers in to bring a home up to standard then let it continue. I wonder if CQC delve into accounts to see if profit to care is disproportionate.
im sure that reduçing the amount of homes is not in CQCs remit or helpful. Its impossible to see how home is really run and effectively protect residents from a few hours visit periodically.