Barchester Healthcare has spoken out after Orchard House Care Centre on the Isle of Wight was downgraded to ‘Inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following a concerning inspection that found serious failings in care and safety.
The inspection, carried out in February, was prompted by concerns relating to people’s care, risk management, health deterioration and the culture within the home, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Inspectors found the service was in breach of multiple regulations, including those relating to dignity and respect, consent, staffing and person-centred care. The home was rated inadequate for being safe and effective, with other areas marked as requires improvement.
Among the most troubling findings was an incident where a resident had written ‘HELP’ on their bedroom wall and told inspectors they were frightened.
Other concerns raised during the inspection included issues around residents’ wellbeing, nutrition and safety systems.
Following publication of the report, Barchester Healthcare says it has already taken steps to address the failings.
The CQC has issued warning notices to the service and requested an action plan. The regulator says it will continue to monitor Orchard House Care Centre closely to ensure improvements are made and residents are kept safe.
A spokesperson from Barchester Healthcare has said:
“Since the inspection, the home has come under new leadership, with strengthened management oversight, increased senior support and clinical expertise in place. The safety, wellbeing and dignity of our residents is always our highest priority, and we take the findings of the Care Quality Commission extremely seriously. We are deeply concerned by the experiences described, and it is clear that elements of the care identified in the report were not of the standard we expect.
“Following the inspection in February, we acted immediately to address the concerns raised. A comprehensive action plan has been submitted to the CQC and is now being implemented, focusing on improving care quality, safeguarding, staffing and governance. This includes increased management presence, additional training, enhanced clinical monitoring, and improvements to care planning, safeguarding processes and quality assurance systems, to drive rapid and sustained improvement.
“While inspectors also heard positive feedback from some residents and relatives – including comments about supportive staff and a welcoming environment – we recognise that this was not consistent, and consistency of care is essential. We remain focused on embedding the required improvements at pace and will continue to work closely with the CQC, local partners, staff, residents and families to ensure sustained progress and to deliver the safe, person‑centred care residents and families have the right to expect.”
At what Barchester charge per resident it should never have got to that state.
Absolutely Disgraceful.
I totally agree making this statement from Barchester now which is a bit late this should never of happened in the first place, they charge so much money to live there, absolutely disgusting by such a big organisation? Oh employing more staff wouldn’t go a miss either?
I’m sorry but these cases are almost entirely finance driven. Head office say, “save money” management get cheap minimum wage workers unsuited to the tasks, they drop a few shifts, they keep staff who couldn’t give a toss and sack those that care because they demand change, and change costs money. Drop a few meal ingredients or buy chilled from wholesalers, get the cheapest cleaning products and cut cleaners hours to get youngsters cleaning as part of their job. It’s an old story that never seems to change and head office always blames the home with no recourse to their decisions or management style as if the homes suddenly do all these awful things for their benefit, not head office. It’s time to prosecute the companies, not just make staff carry the can. I wonder how involved area managers would become if massive fines were the result of money saving.
Personally I don’t blame the owners I blame the staff they employ.
The uncaring staff responsible need sacking and also the manager,
they are paid to do a job of which they are clearly not doing!
CARING FOR PERSONS WHO NEED CARE.
What utter rubbish the owners should be doing regular checks to make sure the business is being run to a high standard,
That is what they pay their in house management team
to do, AND OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE FAILING
WHAT’S THE BETTER THEY FEED THE OWNERS BALLSH*T
UNDERCOVER BOSSES NEED TO VISIT SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS
DON’T BE A NUMPTY ALL YOUR LIFE, THERE IS NO
CURE FOR NUMPTIES
Of course the front line staff were to blame for the issues, but you cannot remove the owners from that. It’s a crappy company that doesn’t see profits increase and doesn’t either check to see where the savings come from, or sends a ‘well done’ message to the management. They knew what was going on and probably initiated the cost cutting. I am sick of these companies making millions off the backs of the elderly and then doing the standard “we accept that we fell below our normal standards and have sacked the staff and will train management to do better” in other words, “nowt to do with us mate, it’s them that caused it, we just banked the extra profit and said nowt.. things will get better, honest, we will be careful not to get found out next time”
Regular checks needs carrying out after this.
I supplied Hairdressing services here 2011 – 2013 and it was lovely. Revisited to do a private client that had been taken in in 2023 and it smelled of urine; group of staff chatting in the kitchen unwilling to help with procuring a vacuum cleaner or dustpan and brush for me to tidy up after the haircut. Shame. These residents are paying thousands of pounds a week! There needs to be a government overhaul of the so-called ‘care’ industry
well it does not suprise me with the way they run barchester homes on the island as they thinks more like a hotel, I lost my grandad in there and he wasn’t ‘found’ for at least an hour .. and staff had ‘forgotten’ that he was on regular checks!
Obviously they have staffing issues, there are no excuses
for their incompetence.
I am very sorry to hear about your Grandad, no one
should have to suffer in such places.
Obviously, care homes have to run to make a profit, or at the very least, break even, so they can keep running.
Absolutely frightening to see how many millions of pounds profit Barchester admits to on their accounts filed with Companies House.