Helen Glanfield will be taking over the management of the troubled Blackwater Mill Care Home, following the departure of Natalie Fielding.
Last October, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published a damning report that rated Blackwater Mill, on the outskirts of Newport, as ‘inadequate’ and saw the home thrown into special measures. Concerns were raised about the home’s ability to manage risk and the safety of the home environment, with inspectors ultimately finding that residents were at risk of harm.
According to the report, based on an inspection in March 2024, there were ongoing risks related to the stairwells, fire safety, managing distressed behaviour and ensuring people received food modified to an appropriate texture to meet their needs. People’s ability to consent to their care or restrictions in their support had not been assessed in line with the law and this impacted on their human rights.
Furthermore, it was found that staff did not have consistent guidance to enable them to support people safely, nor had they received regular training to enable them to meet people’s varied needs. At the time, the Isle of Wight Council said that it was working with the Blackwater Mill team to ‘support their improvement journey’.
Now, the Isle of Wight Council says it is not only providing management oversight within the care home but is also working to review the care and support needs of residents. Where appropriate, support is being provided to residents to access alternative care and support provision in light of the concerns raised over the quality of care at Blackwater Mill.
In the same week that news of the development broke, it has been confirmed a new manager is in place…
Rebecca English-Williams of Buckland Care has said:
“We wish Natalie all the very best for the future and thank her for her dedication during her time with us.
Article continues below this advertisement “To ensure a smooth transition, we are pleased to welcome Helen Ganfield, a highly experienced interim manager, who will be joining us to take over the management of the home.
“Helen brings a wealth of experience in care home management, and we are confident her expertise will be invaluable in continuing to drive forward positive changes at Blackwater Mill.
“We remain fully committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and support for all our residents. To support this, we have a consultant working closely with our team to guide and sustain improvements.
“Additionally, Tracy from Kingland House, another home in our group, and her Head of Care, Maxine, will be providing hands-on support. Tracy will be visiting Blackwater Mill 2 days a week and will also be on-site this weekend to ensure continuity of care.
“Helen will be available to meet with residents and relatives in the coming weeks.
“We are committed to ensuring that Blackwater Mill remains a safe, supportive, and welcoming home for all our residents.”
The place stinks of urine as soon as you go in,the stairgates a terrible should be removed some proper ones fitted correctly