Cleaveland Lodge in Colchester in special measures after inspection

The Care Quality Commission visited Cleaveland Lodge, in Rowhedge Road, Colchester, during a five-day inspection prompted by concerns about unwitnessed falls and staffing levels at the home.

During visits inspectors found Government guidance on Covid-19 practise was not being strictly followed and said a review of infection prevention measures found “significant shortfalls” in steps taken to protect people from contracting Covid-19.

The report said: “We were not assured the provider was doing all that was practical to ensure Covid-19 outbreaks would be prevented.

“The service was not consistently following the Government guidance about how to operate safely during the Covid-19 pandemic, in areas such as the wearing of PPE, social distancing and ensuring staff were provided with designated areas for putting on and taking off their PPE.”

Inspectors also described a “chaotic culture of leadership scrutiny” at the home.

They said: “These failings placed people using the service at risk of harm, and significant exposure to the risk of harm.”

The home was rated inadequate in the safety and leadership categories and requires improvement in the caring category, with an inadequate rating overall.

Cleaveland Lodge, which was home to 51 residents at the time of the inspection, will be reinspected within six months. If significant improvements are not made the operator could face enforcement action.

A spokesman for the home said: “Management and staff at Cleaveland Lodge do not feel the report reflects the good care we provide and the support we have provided to Colchester Hospital during Covid-19.

“As such an investigation is underway with the CQC and it would be inappropriate to comment further.

“Cleaveland Lodge has consistently been rated good since 1993 and we believe this will be achieved in the very near future.

“We are co-operating fully with all the relevant authorities. “