The Isle of Wight Council is working hard to ensure the residents of a care home that is being closed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) remain safe and well cared for.
New placements for all 16 residents of the privately-run Firbank care home – 11 of whom are funded by the council – are being arranged by council staff working closely with them, their families and the CQC.
Its most recent inspection in June 2021 identified a range of serious problems which were putting residents at risk, leading to the home being judged ‘inadequate’. It had previously been rated ‘good’ in 2017.
Following their recent inspection, the CQC has subsequently decided to serve notice to cancel the home’s registration, which will result in its closure at the end of a 28 day period. The care home will no longer be able to deliver care and support from 4th September 2021.
Laura Gaudion, the council’s interim director of adult social care and housing needs, said the council had acted swiftly as soon as it became aware of the issues, contacting all residents and their families directly to offer support including those who fund their own care.
She said:
“The safety and wellbeing of the frail and elderly residents of the care home is our top priority. This is a very distressing and worrying time for both the residents and their families and our priority has been to support them as best we can.
“As soon as the CQC notified the council of their significant concerns and intention to close the care home, in order to ensure that the residents were safe and well cared for, council staff were immediately redeployed to provide round the clock care and support to residents.
Article continues below this advertisement “A review of each and every resident’s needs has being undertaken by the council’s social work team, involving their families and advocates as necessary. As a result, alternative care has already been identified for residents – eight have either already moved or are moving over the next few days.
“Having identified the care and support needs for the remaining residents, the council is working with local providers and families to ensure everyone has somewhere safe and capable of meeting their individual needs before the CQC closure deadline.”
Councillor Karl Love, Cabinet member for adult social care, added:
“It is the immediate welfare and safety of the residents that is our foremost priority.
“These are frail elderly people who should be nurtured in their golden years and provided with the quality of care we would all want for a loved one.
“We have been working calmly and carefully with our health and care partners to ensure we support both the residents and their families at this upsetting time for them all. I want to thank all those who responded so quickly to support our Island residents.
“Our Island carers have worked so very hard during this epidemic and there are many accounts of them going the extra mile and I truly appreciate all their, and other front line workers’, efforts.”
What a discrace they should have closed it years ago. The place is run down, they employ just about anyone to work there and the staff just don’t care
Firbank could never have been classed as a ‘care’ home, it should have been closed ages ago. My thoughts go out to the residents and their families, I hope they will be happy and cared for properly in their new homes.
Where is the home in question?
What home is this? Looks like the place I cleaned at years ago