A care home has been given the most severe rating possible by a health and social care watchdog for the second time in two years.
The Two Rivers Care Home in Finchley was rated “inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after an inspection which took place over February and March.
The CQC first handed down this rating following an inspection last year which placed the service in special measures.
CQC Deputy Director in North London Victoria Oeckden said: “It was disappointing that at this inspection, Two Rivers Care Home were unable to demonstrate the required improvements we identified were needed at our last inspection.”
The Two Rivers Care Home specifically supports Asian women with learning and physical disabilities and autism, and is registered to provide care and accommodation for eight people.
Its inspection was prompted after an incident in which a person using the service sustained a serious injury, which the CQC says it is investigating further.
The CQC found 15 people in three shared houses staying at the care home and noted that staff failed to communicate with the people living there, often sitting in silence with them or repeatedly saying the same statement instead of tailoring to an individual’s disabilities or neurodivergence.
It even found that some members of staff did not know how to access documents explaining how to protect and support those living at the home who are a choking risk.
Oeckden explained: “In particular, the service needed to make sure it was communicating with the people living there, in a personalised way that worked for them, rather than what was convenient for staff.
“We were also very concerned about people’s basic safety, for example staff not preparing food and drink specifically to meet the requirements of people at risk of choking.”
According to the report, the staff team on the whole “did not have the training to treat people as individuals and promote what is important to individuals.”
Across five sub-categories rated out of 100, The Two Rivers Care Home scored just 25 in the CQC’s Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led categories, and 30 in its Caring category.
The report clearly pointed out that it found staff handled people attentively and with kindness, and that shortfalls were due to a lack of support and direction on management’s part rather than staff being unkind.
Oeckden also said that the CQC has taken further action against the home after its findings but is currently unable to report on them for legal reasons.
Two Rivers Care Home has rejected a request from North West Londoner for comment.
If you have concerns about any health or social care service, you can contact the CQC via their website or on 03000 616161.
Featured image credit: The Care Quality Commission
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