Inspectors note steps taken to improve Hartlepool care home after warning notice

De Bruce Court residential care home in Jones Road, Hartlepool, was given the rating following a full inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in August 2019.

At the time there were five breaches of regulation and a warning notice was served on the provider.

Issues included people’s care records not always being complete or accurate.

The CQC also found people did not receive consistently safe care, medicines were not always managed safely and staff recruitment procedures were not always thorough.

A follow up ‘targeted inspection’ by the CQC was carried out on March 10, before the coronavirus lockdown.

The CQC inspected whether the service was safe, effective and well led, but no updated ratings were given as targeted inspections do not change the rating from the previous inspection.

At the time of the latest inspection De Bruce Court was providing personal and nursing care to 21 people including younger adults and older people, some of whom have dementia, physical disabilities or mental health needs.

The CQC stated in their report: “We undertook this targeted inspection to check whether the warning notice we previously served in relation to Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 had been met.”

It added: “The provider and the management team had taken steps to improve the service and ensured people received safer care.

“An action plan to address the warning notice issued by CQC had been developed and was being completed.

“Some of the requirements of the warning notice had been met, but not all.”

The CQC said people were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives but added quality assurance systems to measure the effectiveness of the service had improved.

David Stockdale, Director of Operations for provider Careline Lifestyles, said: “We are desperate for a full inspection at De Bruce Court and we know the home is meeting all regulatory standards and we are confident it will be rated as Good.

“Right now CQC are not inspecting any care homes due to the pandemic.”

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