One of the care homes in our small group has come under serious scrutiny and Enforcement Notices for what is essentially minor errors in care plans, yet the following have been ignored by CQC in previous inspections with the previous owner:
1. We have found no evidence of Gas Safety Certificates prior to the present owner taking over.
2. No evidence of 5 year electrical safety certificates prior to the present owner taking over.
3. Last Fire Risk Assessment in 2010 with no updates or reviews.
4. In 14 years CQC inspectors have missed that the previous owner had been in breach of the Care Standards by not providing a safe lockable place in residents bedrooms.
5. Boilers had not been maintained, one boiler did not even have the outer safety cover.
6. Boilers in such a poor state of repair had to be instantly condemned and replaced.
This home has echoes of Copthorne, it was getting continual good inspections despite not being full and not meeting safety standards in many areas. Since the present owner has taken over, the boilers have been replaced and the home has a gas safety certificate, the home has a five year electrical certificate after extensive work has been completed. There is a new Fire Risk assessment in place and the Fire Officer inspected the home at the inspectors request and found only minor problems all which have been rectified within two weeks. All the residents have a lockable place for their valuables.
Prior to the home being purchased by the present owner, it was in such a poor state of repair that it was an accident waiting to happen. The boilers were turned on just after the new owner took over and instantly there was a serious electrical short which could have turned into a major fire, this was rectified at a cost of over £2,000 and the boilers made safe to run until they could be shut down for the summer and replaced. At least two fuse boxes had to be replaced and major electrical work completed before we could achieve the 5 year electrical safety certificate, so the obvious question is, 'Why was this inspected and found to be either adequate or good?'
Wednesday, 6 August 2014
Wednesday, 16 July 2014
Medication Competency Checklist
My Deputy and myself have designed a form for staff to check their competency to give medication, if anyone is interested in having this please let me know.
The Cost of Care?
In my care home we get the Social Services top rate which equates to £66.90 per day per resident.
For this cost we have to provide:
With an ageing population I know this will be a major problem, but care homes will go bankrupt and then places that are needed will be lost. The cut backs are not efficient because instead of cutting services they should increase financial efficiency which the NHS and the government seem unable to do, one major cut would be to put a cap on managers and their wages some of whom get massive salaries, yet fail to provide a good service.
For this cost we have to provide:
- Three meals, two of which must be hot and a choice of meals,
- Personal care if required,
- All heating,
- Lighting,
- Water for washing and bathing,
- Endless drinks throughout the day,
- Snacks,
- Biscuits,
- Activities,
- Escorts to appointments
- Laundry service
With an ageing population I know this will be a major problem, but care homes will go bankrupt and then places that are needed will be lost. The cut backs are not efficient because instead of cutting services they should increase financial efficiency which the NHS and the government seem unable to do, one major cut would be to put a cap on managers and their wages some of whom get massive salaries, yet fail to provide a good service.
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
Question, Is There Any Body CQC or a CQC Inspector Hasn't Pissed Off?
I was told today that in Eastbourne a senior executive of CQC managed to piss off nurses by telling them, 'Look after my Inspectors and give them lots of drinks'. I do not know if this is true or accurate, but it sounds perfectly plausable.
So my question is in the title, 'Is there any body CQC or a CQC inspector hasn't pissed off?' I think this is a good question as I know they have a very low standing in the Social Care Sector, and now they are doing the same to the NHS and Dentists.
I have yet to meet an inspector who doesn't have serious issues, by that I mean they personally have serious issues. Many seem to be egotists and have let power go to their heads. Having worked in care for excess of 40 years I know that regulation is needed, after all I will be honest and say not every care home, care home manager or proprietor is passionate about care, but most are, like any business it takes a few rotten apples to spoil the barrel.
Saying that though, I have yet to find or work with an inspector who understands what it is to run a care home, who understands what was initially proposed under the 'Fit for the Future' banner and the spirit in which regulation was supposed to work as helping and guiding along with regulation.
CQC has proved itself over and over again as 'Not Fit for Purpose' after all its own mistakes far outweigh those of individual care homes or hospitals and a brief history of abject failure is sad reading,
Basildon and Thurrock University hospital where possibly hundreds of people died yet was passed as good by CQC.
Winterbourne View another case of major failure by CQC where abuse was widespread.
Ash Court again another home with serious abuse.
Copthorne the latest in a long line of failures by CQC, again passed as good, and many unexplained deaths.
These are just the ones that hit the press, and each time CQC has an excuse, with Copthorne Andrea Sutcliffe wrote a long piece defending CQC and this was sent to everyone who has a listed email with CQC, she stated there were lessons to be learned, but how many more have to die or be abused because CQC inspectors have no first hand knowledge of the areas they inspect in. For example, I have had inspectors who have been, primary school teacher, a relative carer, a nurse and not one inspector in the past 14 years who has first hand experience of running a care home or first hand experience of seeing the effects of neglect or abuse and has had to help pick up the pieces.
Those who have read my previous blog know I was upset by the way our sister home was inspected, by an ex-nurse and her colleague. There were inconsistencies and she was able to show herself to be biased and admitted that she had inspected the home before under the previous owner and knew of medication failures, poor fire sign-age, poor policies and procedures and poor care planning yet consistently passed the home until the new owner came along and started to correct everything we found wrong, and that wasn't all we found.
There were no safety certificates in place, the boilers had to be replaced as they were dangerous, the rooms had no safe lockable place for residents valuables, the list goes on and on and we could prove this at least once by referring to an inspection report from 2010. The poor medication practise was observed by three outside members of staff, and the new deputy manager, but the inspector knew of this and knew the practise was dangerous but continued to allow this to go on unchecked. No wonder CQC inspectors have a lowly standing in the caring community.
This will never change until CQC don't just change their name, but change their whole ethos. Homes, managers and owners who try to right the wrongs seem to be targeted as easy prey, yet as long as this is allowed to happen by our politicians we can expect more abuse, more deaths and continued failure by this runaway juggernaut.
Amendment
In the news today CQC have admitted they have taken 126 inspectors in 2012 who are not of a good standard, but they cannot dismiss them for fear of claims of unfair dismissal!!!! In my estimation evey inspector in CQC should be completely re-evaluated and any or all who do not have relative experience and skills to complete these inspections should be discharged or dismissed as not 'Fit for Purpose'. This is another example of the crazy way CQC are being run, and they are the regulators??????
This should be debated at the highest level as CQC have such a massive history of failure and yet it still rumbles on like a runaway train with no control, no clear leadership and no real commitment.
So my question is in the title, 'Is there any body CQC or a CQC inspector hasn't pissed off?' I think this is a good question as I know they have a very low standing in the Social Care Sector, and now they are doing the same to the NHS and Dentists.
I have yet to meet an inspector who doesn't have serious issues, by that I mean they personally have serious issues. Many seem to be egotists and have let power go to their heads. Having worked in care for excess of 40 years I know that regulation is needed, after all I will be honest and say not every care home, care home manager or proprietor is passionate about care, but most are, like any business it takes a few rotten apples to spoil the barrel.
Saying that though, I have yet to find or work with an inspector who understands what it is to run a care home, who understands what was initially proposed under the 'Fit for the Future' banner and the spirit in which regulation was supposed to work as helping and guiding along with regulation.
CQC has proved itself over and over again as 'Not Fit for Purpose' after all its own mistakes far outweigh those of individual care homes or hospitals and a brief history of abject failure is sad reading,
Basildon and Thurrock University hospital where possibly hundreds of people died yet was passed as good by CQC.
Winterbourne View another case of major failure by CQC where abuse was widespread.
Ash Court again another home with serious abuse.
Copthorne the latest in a long line of failures by CQC, again passed as good, and many unexplained deaths.
These are just the ones that hit the press, and each time CQC has an excuse, with Copthorne Andrea Sutcliffe wrote a long piece defending CQC and this was sent to everyone who has a listed email with CQC, she stated there were lessons to be learned, but how many more have to die or be abused because CQC inspectors have no first hand knowledge of the areas they inspect in. For example, I have had inspectors who have been, primary school teacher, a relative carer, a nurse and not one inspector in the past 14 years who has first hand experience of running a care home or first hand experience of seeing the effects of neglect or abuse and has had to help pick up the pieces.
Those who have read my previous blog know I was upset by the way our sister home was inspected, by an ex-nurse and her colleague. There were inconsistencies and she was able to show herself to be biased and admitted that she had inspected the home before under the previous owner and knew of medication failures, poor fire sign-age, poor policies and procedures and poor care planning yet consistently passed the home until the new owner came along and started to correct everything we found wrong, and that wasn't all we found.
There were no safety certificates in place, the boilers had to be replaced as they were dangerous, the rooms had no safe lockable place for residents valuables, the list goes on and on and we could prove this at least once by referring to an inspection report from 2010. The poor medication practise was observed by three outside members of staff, and the new deputy manager, but the inspector knew of this and knew the practise was dangerous but continued to allow this to go on unchecked. No wonder CQC inspectors have a lowly standing in the caring community.
This will never change until CQC don't just change their name, but change their whole ethos. Homes, managers and owners who try to right the wrongs seem to be targeted as easy prey, yet as long as this is allowed to happen by our politicians we can expect more abuse, more deaths and continued failure by this runaway juggernaut.
Amendment
In the news today CQC have admitted they have taken 126 inspectors in 2012 who are not of a good standard, but they cannot dismiss them for fear of claims of unfair dismissal!!!! In my estimation evey inspector in CQC should be completely re-evaluated and any or all who do not have relative experience and skills to complete these inspections should be discharged or dismissed as not 'Fit for Purpose'. This is another example of the crazy way CQC are being run, and they are the regulators??????
This should be debated at the highest level as CQC have such a massive history of failure and yet it still rumbles on like a runaway train with no control, no clear leadership and no real commitment.
Thursday, 3 July 2014
CQC Still Not Getting IT
One of the care homes in our small group was inspected in April, not unusual, but this was very unusual and shows that despite all the hype from Andrea Sutcliffe in her blogs and email updates, CQC still hasn't got a clue.
Just prior to this inspection we had to investigate and dismiss the registered manager for numerous failures, this was completed correctly with a complete investigation, proper disciplinary and once completed all reports and evidence were sent to CQC, DBS and Safeguarding. Also prior to this inspection the homes previous inspector spoke with the Acting Manager who explained everything to him and he agreed to give the home three months grace to put everything right.
About three weeks later this inspector turns up, who has no knowledge of the report that had been sent to CQC by 1st Class recorded delivery, had no knowledge of the phone call and agreement from the previous inspector, had no knowledge of the Safeguarding Alert that had been raised and then proceeded to show a complete lack of understanding or empathy backed up by an obvious bias towards the present owner compared to the previous owner. Let me explain more so you can judge for yourself.
The inspector came along unannounced as expected, but only about 3 - 4 weeks after we had the agreement to a three month state of grace. The Acting manager was totally transparent, open and honest and explained what had happened, I also went across and brought with me copies of all the main evidence and paperwork. We were able to demonstrate that things were being corrected and being put in place to rectify all the failings we had found (not an outside agency), and on the surface, despite admitting she knew nothing of what had happened, appeared to accept that we had things under control and were moving forward and planning how to tackle the massive task we had.
She left stating that she would have to take this up with her manager and the next day we were informed that another inspection was to take place with both this inspector and her manager on Friday, a day later. This was a far more aggressive inspection which also included inappropriate comments by the inspector, 'you don't get a second chance' etc. We were also told that the inspector had contacted Safeguarding and they had no evidence this had been reported and she was unable to get a P number.
The owner rang me and I said leave this with me and I rang Safeguarding immediately and within 30 seconds of being connected had the P number, which I then phoned across to the owner. Now this is where the bias starts to slip in. During the inspection the Policies and Procedures were looked at, but the Acting manager also showed the inspector the templates we had to produce personalised Policies for the home. The Policies and Procedures the owner inherited he was told were, 'barely adequate', yet these were the same policies and procedures that CQC had passed with the previous owner and the templates were not accepted. The owner was also asked to produce the safety certificates electricity and gas etc, again this gets interesting. On the day of the 1st inspection our electrician turned up to complete the work that he had been commissioned to do to achieve the electrical certificate and he was questioned by the inspector who was suspicious we had just called him in.
When the owner purchased the home there were no safety certificates we could find, no gas, electricity and the pat testing certificate was over two years old, also the residents rooms had no lockable place for residents to use as safekeeping, the rooms did not have privacy locks, the office had no safe and to top this off when we asked British Gas to inspect the boilers they raised major concerns of the safety of these boilers and the temperature in the boiler room.
Immediately the owner replaced the boilers, put lockable safe boxes in each room, privacy locks on the doors and put a safe in the office, but the previous owner had been receiving consistent good reports, because she was maternal and cared for her residents, but obviously not enough to keep them safe!
Despite everything that had been done and the plan to correct all the errors we found that the registered manager had failed to do and was dismissed for, and the fact that this was not another Winterbourne or Copthorne where poor practise was being ignored, the home was put on special measures.
I wrote to Mr Bxxxx to raise concerns at the way the inspector and her manager had conducted these inspections without appearing to be aware of the reports I had submitted with evidence. I got a response from the manager who I had raised a concern about! It had been handed to her!
There are many concerns and issues here:
1. Why was the inspector not aware of the report I had submitted?
2. Why had she not discussed the home with the previous inspector and was aware of what he had agreed with the Acting Manager by phone?
3. Why was it felt necessary to say, 'you don't get a second chance'?
4. Why was the home getting good inspection reports, under the previous owner, when it had no safety certificates in place?
5. Why was the home, under the previous owner, getting good inspection reports when there was no safe lockable place for the residents or even in the office?
6. Why were the Policies and Procedures accepted as adequate under the previous owner and suddenly 'barely adequate' with a new owner?
7. I told the new owner that the existing care plans under the previous owner were not suitable, they were outdated, outmoded and poorly written yet were accepted by CQC.
8. The inspector told the Acting Manager that she must have consent forms in place, but under the previous owner there had been no evidence of consent having ever been put in place, yet she was still getting good inspections!
I could make this list double I would think, but this gives a flavour, where CQC have, suddenly, with a change of ownership, decided that everything that wasn't completed under the previous owner and they had let slide now had to be completed yesterday.
Double standards are being exercised by CQC. They have failed in their duty of care to keep residents safe by not checking on safety certificates until change of ownership. The Policies and Procedures in my experience which they passed as adequate I saw as substandard and the same with the care plans.
As a final note to this sordid tale, the inspector rang the Acting manager yesterday (02/07/14) and during the conversation made the statement, 'its a shame Mrs XXXXX had to sell as she had such a maternal way with the residents and its a shame the home had to change'!!!!!!!!
WHAT THE F**K AND SHE IS AN INSPECTOR!!!!!
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
As a final note to this tale, it appears that being open, honest and transparent with CQC is not something to be recommended. If you are a Winterbourne or Copthorne you can get away with things until its hits the national press! CQC have never had an audit themselves or been inspected to show that they are meeting their own standards and yet they have constantly been found to be failing, often with serious results as I mentioned Winterbourne and Copthorne are only two of the most infamous of their failures, there have been more, but these haven't made the press or if they have have managed to slip under the net of public scrutiny.
I agree whole heartedly that care homes should be inspected, but I do not think that CQC should themselves not be inspected and audited as 'Fit for Purpose' as they appear to be able to make some catastrophic errors and just get away with a slap on the wrist, whereas they will make threats to care homes to improve or be shut, again another double standard.
Update
Acting manager going through another inspection today is petrified by the way she is being inspected, the owner feels this is a vendetta because concerns were raised over previous inspections. Now a resident is at risk of being given notice as with him there the home cannot be compliant, the move could bring his life to an early end as moves are extremely traumatic, but what can be done? The owner is also concerned that he may now have to close the home as it is impossible to work with the current inspector and to have an Acting Manager in her first position absolutely petrified is not good for the residents or the home.
16.50 still going on attacking the poor acting manager, moving goal posts and sniggering in corners, become silent when the acting manager is within earshot, but she has seen them sniggering. One member of staff failed to attend training so possibly being made non compliant for that!!!! Now pointing out poor fire signage that was inherited from previous owner and trying to claim this is only since the new owner took over, they are trying to cover their own backs for the fact that they missed the fact that the previous owner was completely non compliant and CQC did nothing!
Today has not been of any credit to CQC, they have ignored the fact they have failed in their duty of care when it came to this home under previous ownership, and have shown themselves to be biased, petty and carry a grudge because concerns were raised about the initial inspection. CQC promised to work with providers to assist them to be compliant, but in this instance the evidence has been that CQC haven't changed, they still do not advise and help, but were aggressive, lacking in empathy, understanding or even being aware of what had passed in the home and what was being completed at a fast pace to correct what we had originally found.
Do not trust CQC under Andrea Sutcliffe, it is still the same, no change, in fact I would have to say that the message given in blogs and updates is totally misleading. This is only a personal opinion as I watched from afar and was kept up to date with text messages and phone calls, but it seems a prospective good manager has been crushed by inspectors, and I wouldn't blame her for throwing in the towel. So how do we nurture prospective good managers when CQC do their best to undermine them, God help us in the future, as at this rate we will run out of people who have the skill, ability and willingness to take on the massive challenge of running care homes.
Just prior to this inspection we had to investigate and dismiss the registered manager for numerous failures, this was completed correctly with a complete investigation, proper disciplinary and once completed all reports and evidence were sent to CQC, DBS and Safeguarding. Also prior to this inspection the homes previous inspector spoke with the Acting Manager who explained everything to him and he agreed to give the home three months grace to put everything right.
About three weeks later this inspector turns up, who has no knowledge of the report that had been sent to CQC by 1st Class recorded delivery, had no knowledge of the phone call and agreement from the previous inspector, had no knowledge of the Safeguarding Alert that had been raised and then proceeded to show a complete lack of understanding or empathy backed up by an obvious bias towards the present owner compared to the previous owner. Let me explain more so you can judge for yourself.
The inspector came along unannounced as expected, but only about 3 - 4 weeks after we had the agreement to a three month state of grace. The Acting manager was totally transparent, open and honest and explained what had happened, I also went across and brought with me copies of all the main evidence and paperwork. We were able to demonstrate that things were being corrected and being put in place to rectify all the failings we had found (not an outside agency), and on the surface, despite admitting she knew nothing of what had happened, appeared to accept that we had things under control and were moving forward and planning how to tackle the massive task we had.
She left stating that she would have to take this up with her manager and the next day we were informed that another inspection was to take place with both this inspector and her manager on Friday, a day later. This was a far more aggressive inspection which also included inappropriate comments by the inspector, 'you don't get a second chance' etc. We were also told that the inspector had contacted Safeguarding and they had no evidence this had been reported and she was unable to get a P number.
The owner rang me and I said leave this with me and I rang Safeguarding immediately and within 30 seconds of being connected had the P number, which I then phoned across to the owner. Now this is where the bias starts to slip in. During the inspection the Policies and Procedures were looked at, but the Acting manager also showed the inspector the templates we had to produce personalised Policies for the home. The Policies and Procedures the owner inherited he was told were, 'barely adequate', yet these were the same policies and procedures that CQC had passed with the previous owner and the templates were not accepted. The owner was also asked to produce the safety certificates electricity and gas etc, again this gets interesting. On the day of the 1st inspection our electrician turned up to complete the work that he had been commissioned to do to achieve the electrical certificate and he was questioned by the inspector who was suspicious we had just called him in.
When the owner purchased the home there were no safety certificates we could find, no gas, electricity and the pat testing certificate was over two years old, also the residents rooms had no lockable place for residents to use as safekeeping, the rooms did not have privacy locks, the office had no safe and to top this off when we asked British Gas to inspect the boilers they raised major concerns of the safety of these boilers and the temperature in the boiler room.
Immediately the owner replaced the boilers, put lockable safe boxes in each room, privacy locks on the doors and put a safe in the office, but the previous owner had been receiving consistent good reports, because she was maternal and cared for her residents, but obviously not enough to keep them safe!
Despite everything that had been done and the plan to correct all the errors we found that the registered manager had failed to do and was dismissed for, and the fact that this was not another Winterbourne or Copthorne where poor practise was being ignored, the home was put on special measures.
I wrote to Mr Bxxxx to raise concerns at the way the inspector and her manager had conducted these inspections without appearing to be aware of the reports I had submitted with evidence. I got a response from the manager who I had raised a concern about! It had been handed to her!
There are many concerns and issues here:
1. Why was the inspector not aware of the report I had submitted?
2. Why had she not discussed the home with the previous inspector and was aware of what he had agreed with the Acting Manager by phone?
3. Why was it felt necessary to say, 'you don't get a second chance'?
4. Why was the home getting good inspection reports, under the previous owner, when it had no safety certificates in place?
5. Why was the home, under the previous owner, getting good inspection reports when there was no safe lockable place for the residents or even in the office?
6. Why were the Policies and Procedures accepted as adequate under the previous owner and suddenly 'barely adequate' with a new owner?
7. I told the new owner that the existing care plans under the previous owner were not suitable, they were outdated, outmoded and poorly written yet were accepted by CQC.
8. The inspector told the Acting Manager that she must have consent forms in place, but under the previous owner there had been no evidence of consent having ever been put in place, yet she was still getting good inspections!
I could make this list double I would think, but this gives a flavour, where CQC have, suddenly, with a change of ownership, decided that everything that wasn't completed under the previous owner and they had let slide now had to be completed yesterday.
Double standards are being exercised by CQC. They have failed in their duty of care to keep residents safe by not checking on safety certificates until change of ownership. The Policies and Procedures in my experience which they passed as adequate I saw as substandard and the same with the care plans.
As a final note to this sordid tale, the inspector rang the Acting manager yesterday (02/07/14) and during the conversation made the statement, 'its a shame Mrs XXXXX had to sell as she had such a maternal way with the residents and its a shame the home had to change'!!!!!!!!
WHAT THE F**K AND SHE IS AN INSPECTOR!!!!!
ADDITIONAL COMMENT
As a final note to this tale, it appears that being open, honest and transparent with CQC is not something to be recommended. If you are a Winterbourne or Copthorne you can get away with things until its hits the national press! CQC have never had an audit themselves or been inspected to show that they are meeting their own standards and yet they have constantly been found to be failing, often with serious results as I mentioned Winterbourne and Copthorne are only two of the most infamous of their failures, there have been more, but these haven't made the press or if they have have managed to slip under the net of public scrutiny.
I agree whole heartedly that care homes should be inspected, but I do not think that CQC should themselves not be inspected and audited as 'Fit for Purpose' as they appear to be able to make some catastrophic errors and just get away with a slap on the wrist, whereas they will make threats to care homes to improve or be shut, again another double standard.
Update
Acting manager going through another inspection today is petrified by the way she is being inspected, the owner feels this is a vendetta because concerns were raised over previous inspections. Now a resident is at risk of being given notice as with him there the home cannot be compliant, the move could bring his life to an early end as moves are extremely traumatic, but what can be done? The owner is also concerned that he may now have to close the home as it is impossible to work with the current inspector and to have an Acting Manager in her first position absolutely petrified is not good for the residents or the home.
16.50 still going on attacking the poor acting manager, moving goal posts and sniggering in corners, become silent when the acting manager is within earshot, but she has seen them sniggering. One member of staff failed to attend training so possibly being made non compliant for that!!!! Now pointing out poor fire signage that was inherited from previous owner and trying to claim this is only since the new owner took over, they are trying to cover their own backs for the fact that they missed the fact that the previous owner was completely non compliant and CQC did nothing!
Today has not been of any credit to CQC, they have ignored the fact they have failed in their duty of care when it came to this home under previous ownership, and have shown themselves to be biased, petty and carry a grudge because concerns were raised about the initial inspection. CQC promised to work with providers to assist them to be compliant, but in this instance the evidence has been that CQC haven't changed, they still do not advise and help, but were aggressive, lacking in empathy, understanding or even being aware of what had passed in the home and what was being completed at a fast pace to correct what we had originally found.
Do not trust CQC under Andrea Sutcliffe, it is still the same, no change, in fact I would have to say that the message given in blogs and updates is totally misleading. This is only a personal opinion as I watched from afar and was kept up to date with text messages and phone calls, but it seems a prospective good manager has been crushed by inspectors, and I wouldn't blame her for throwing in the towel. So how do we nurture prospective good managers when CQC do their best to undermine them, God help us in the future, as at this rate we will run out of people who have the skill, ability and willingness to take on the massive challenge of running care homes.
Thursday, 20 June 2013
CQC in The NewsAgain as NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE
Well what a surprise (not) that CQC are yet again back in the news and its own Chairman David Prior has admitted this.
I wrote to David Cameron expressing long term concerns about CQC in all its various guises (CSCI, NCSC etc) and whilst Cynthia Bower was in charge, questioning the type of person they were employing as Inspectors, and he just passed the letter on until it was sent to CQC, now Cameron and Hunt are sticking their heads in the sand and reacting as if no one told them what was going on!!!!
CQC is NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE and is carrying on as normal. Their own house is just as corrupt and dirty as it has always been, and as taxpayers we are paying for the privilege.
For over 10 years I have been saying openly that CQC or in one of its guises, should stop all inspections, until they have gone through their own books, rooted out those who are failing (I know of one inspector who was complained about weekly and had no experience of care, outside of her family), and had a clear strategy that was open to everyone who they are inspecting.
Instead we have an unclear strategy, muddled inspections, where it seems the good homes are penalised for being, good, open and caring, and the poor homes and owners manage to get away with poor practise.
That now includes the Health Service. Unless Cameron and Hunt have the balls to tackle CQC and its core workings, whilst they are allowed to continue to inspect with all this fallout going on, no one will trust them.
Shut it down for one year, give it clear goals to be achieved every three months, strategy, recruiting and training, inspection and feedback, then when they pass these goals and can prove that everyone is on the same page let everyone who they inspect know what they will be inspecting for each year.
The best plans are those that are simple, but Cameron and Hunt have to take some of the blame I can't have been the only person who has written to Cameron to have his concerns brushed aside, and that was only a year or two at most ago.
I wrote to David Cameron expressing long term concerns about CQC in all its various guises (CSCI, NCSC etc) and whilst Cynthia Bower was in charge, questioning the type of person they were employing as Inspectors, and he just passed the letter on until it was sent to CQC, now Cameron and Hunt are sticking their heads in the sand and reacting as if no one told them what was going on!!!!
CQC is NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE and is carrying on as normal. Their own house is just as corrupt and dirty as it has always been, and as taxpayers we are paying for the privilege.
For over 10 years I have been saying openly that CQC or in one of its guises, should stop all inspections, until they have gone through their own books, rooted out those who are failing (I know of one inspector who was complained about weekly and had no experience of care, outside of her family), and had a clear strategy that was open to everyone who they are inspecting.
Instead we have an unclear strategy, muddled inspections, where it seems the good homes are penalised for being, good, open and caring, and the poor homes and owners manage to get away with poor practise.
That now includes the Health Service. Unless Cameron and Hunt have the balls to tackle CQC and its core workings, whilst they are allowed to continue to inspect with all this fallout going on, no one will trust them.
Shut it down for one year, give it clear goals to be achieved every three months, strategy, recruiting and training, inspection and feedback, then when they pass these goals and can prove that everyone is on the same page let everyone who they inspect know what they will be inspecting for each year.
The best plans are those that are simple, but Cameron and Hunt have to take some of the blame I can't have been the only person who has written to Cameron to have his concerns brushed aside, and that was only a year or two at most ago.
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Managers Beware of Evil Staff
Try as you might, there is evil in care homes that goes far beyond physical abuse.
I have always made sure that I have been scrupulously fair with staff and have always tried to assist staff and watched their backs, but there is always one who cannot see the good you have done, and is arrogant enough to think that they can get you back,by being the homes unofficial lawyer.
I have one such member of staff who has been extremely conservative with the truth. I know why she has done it, the owner knows why she has done it, and the irony is that she is lucky to still be employed at the home due to many of the complaints from seniors and from some other staff about her attitude, but me being me felt I could work with her and teach her.
The owner has always been kept aware of what is happening in the home and the staff and he has on at least one occasion asked me why she was still there, but I wanted to teach her and get her to see how things could be done.
Now I am left with only 6.5 years left before I can retire and this 19 year old has decided to make sure I cannot work again. She has worked, I believe, in collusion with other staff to make a mistake she and another member of staff made, where I had to pick up the pieces, into a complaint about my handling of the situation. Yes I was sharp with the resident, but a tough love, type of sharp where I was trying to motivate her back to her room. Had a wheelchair been used in the instance that she couldn't walk even 15 feet across the dining room, then this incident wouldn't have happened, but she nor the other staff involved have been honest about their involvement, instead choosing to lay all blame on me.
There was no physical abuse, no verbal abuse, no swearing only a firm sharp tone to try and keep this resident on her feet to hopefully get her to her room without incident. I know hand on heart that I have done nothing wrong, but I feel I have been set up, and I get the impression so does my employer. All my good work over the past 42 years or so is now under the microscope and I feel gutted.
If I loose my job I have requested that the owner employ the toughest manager he can find to knock this home back into shape as if not things could go from bad to worse. This member of staff has now had power that she is unready and unable to deal with and this makes her very dangerous in any care environment, she could destroy everything that has been built up over the past 2.5 years just for some personal self gratification, not for as she would have everyone believe because she was concerned or because she thought she was working in the best interest of a resident. After all this is a girl who had no compunction of coming into my office and telling me that she was the best carer at my care home, as I said arrogant.
I have always made sure that I have been scrupulously fair with staff and have always tried to assist staff and watched their backs, but there is always one who cannot see the good you have done, and is arrogant enough to think that they can get you back,by being the homes unofficial lawyer.
I have one such member of staff who has been extremely conservative with the truth. I know why she has done it, the owner knows why she has done it, and the irony is that she is lucky to still be employed at the home due to many of the complaints from seniors and from some other staff about her attitude, but me being me felt I could work with her and teach her.
The owner has always been kept aware of what is happening in the home and the staff and he has on at least one occasion asked me why she was still there, but I wanted to teach her and get her to see how things could be done.
Now I am left with only 6.5 years left before I can retire and this 19 year old has decided to make sure I cannot work again. She has worked, I believe, in collusion with other staff to make a mistake she and another member of staff made, where I had to pick up the pieces, into a complaint about my handling of the situation. Yes I was sharp with the resident, but a tough love, type of sharp where I was trying to motivate her back to her room. Had a wheelchair been used in the instance that she couldn't walk even 15 feet across the dining room, then this incident wouldn't have happened, but she nor the other staff involved have been honest about their involvement, instead choosing to lay all blame on me.
There was no physical abuse, no verbal abuse, no swearing only a firm sharp tone to try and keep this resident on her feet to hopefully get her to her room without incident. I know hand on heart that I have done nothing wrong, but I feel I have been set up, and I get the impression so does my employer. All my good work over the past 42 years or so is now under the microscope and I feel gutted.
If I loose my job I have requested that the owner employ the toughest manager he can find to knock this home back into shape as if not things could go from bad to worse. This member of staff has now had power that she is unready and unable to deal with and this makes her very dangerous in any care environment, she could destroy everything that has been built up over the past 2.5 years just for some personal self gratification, not for as she would have everyone believe because she was concerned or because she thought she was working in the best interest of a resident. After all this is a girl who had no compunction of coming into my office and telling me that she was the best carer at my care home, as I said arrogant.
Friday, 16 March 2012
Shameful CQC
On 14th April 2011 my care home had an unannounced inspection. Very little could be found wrong with the service and I had only been in post for five months and had initiated a vast amount of change, which is still ongoing. I was given a Statutory letter because I had used staff I had interviewed and accepted into the home before their CRB had come through,but I had explained that I was working in the best interest of the residents as I had been using agency staff and I had asked two of them to leave before the end of their shift due to bad practise,one had washed a lady over 103 yrs with rolled up gloves!!!!!
I used my 40 years experience to make a well considered and well thought through choice to use staff I thought were far more suitable and I had interviewed over those of poorly trained agency staff and got rapped over the knuckles for,in my opinion, making the right decision and protecting my elderly vulnerable residents from poor practise.
Yesterday I visited the CQC website as I was downloading more of the Compliance Tools, a vast amount of extra paperwork that care homes have to fill in,and I decided to check on the status of my home. I was shocked to find that CQC had my home listed as not yet having been inspected,and I still haven't received the inspection report from the inspection on 14th April 2011.
Who polices the CQC? Why are blatant errors that can effect a home be allowed. I made an informed choice to protect my residents and was given a Statutory Notice,but it appears CQC can make worse errors and get away with things scott free. Believe me I have made a ruckus about this, even writing to David Cameron who quickly passed the buck so that my letter in its entirety was passed onto CQC,including my name!!!!
I received a condescending letter back, but still no report, and now their website seems to deny we have even been inspected. To say I am furious at their lack of internal quality control, lack of morals would be an understatement. What makes this story even worse, was that not long after the inspection,another inspector turned up at the home. She started to go through our files, then looked very sheepish and had to call head office. She had been sent to the wrong home!!!! She also promised when leaving that she would make sure our inspection report would be sent as soon as possible as she had viewed it before visiting the home.
Cynthia Bowers has now resigned and not a moment too soon, but CQC is a Quango,paid for by the tax payers to police homes, NHS etc, but can't even put their own house in order first. Will I get an apology? I will not hold my breath, what I do expect is another inspection as I have been a naughty boy to complain. I have no trust or faith in CQC and until they get someone in charge who will keep things simple and keep on top of things in their own house, they have no right, in my book, to judge others.
I used my 40 years experience to make a well considered and well thought through choice to use staff I thought were far more suitable and I had interviewed over those of poorly trained agency staff and got rapped over the knuckles for,in my opinion, making the right decision and protecting my elderly vulnerable residents from poor practise.
Yesterday I visited the CQC website as I was downloading more of the Compliance Tools, a vast amount of extra paperwork that care homes have to fill in,and I decided to check on the status of my home. I was shocked to find that CQC had my home listed as not yet having been inspected,and I still haven't received the inspection report from the inspection on 14th April 2011.
Who polices the CQC? Why are blatant errors that can effect a home be allowed. I made an informed choice to protect my residents and was given a Statutory Notice,but it appears CQC can make worse errors and get away with things scott free. Believe me I have made a ruckus about this, even writing to David Cameron who quickly passed the buck so that my letter in its entirety was passed onto CQC,including my name!!!!
I received a condescending letter back, but still no report, and now their website seems to deny we have even been inspected. To say I am furious at their lack of internal quality control, lack of morals would be an understatement. What makes this story even worse, was that not long after the inspection,another inspector turned up at the home. She started to go through our files, then looked very sheepish and had to call head office. She had been sent to the wrong home!!!! She also promised when leaving that she would make sure our inspection report would be sent as soon as possible as she had viewed it before visiting the home.
Cynthia Bowers has now resigned and not a moment too soon, but CQC is a Quango,paid for by the tax payers to police homes, NHS etc, but can't even put their own house in order first. Will I get an apology? I will not hold my breath, what I do expect is another inspection as I have been a naughty boy to complain. I have no trust or faith in CQC and until they get someone in charge who will keep things simple and keep on top of things in their own house, they have no right, in my book, to judge others.
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Eaglecrest Care Management in Receivership
At last Eaglecrest Care Management has crashed and burned.
Mr Dog-Breath no longer can abuse and terrorise staff in his employ and the residents in his homes are now finally safe from his poor managemgent, and lack of investment.
No one knows what his final total of managers he has gone through in all of his homes, but the amount will be astronomical, now finally they can say, 'What goes around, comes around' I am so pleased this evil, disgusting man has finally got what he deserves.
His ex-homes are all closed to him, he will not be allowed in, and therefore unable to asset strip, hopefully now there is light at the end of the tunnel for all of his victims. I know certain people are already interested in cashing in on his misfortune, and hopefully I might still have an even better laugh at his expense, he doesn't know what he missed when I left his employ and revenge is sweet.
So GOODBYE Mr DOG-BREATH, GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH
For those who are interested here is a link to the current liabilities, this is already easily availble on the net so this is nothing Eaglecrest Liabilities
Mr Dog-Breath no longer can abuse and terrorise staff in his employ and the residents in his homes are now finally safe from his poor managemgent, and lack of investment.
No one knows what his final total of managers he has gone through in all of his homes, but the amount will be astronomical, now finally they can say, 'What goes around, comes around' I am so pleased this evil, disgusting man has finally got what he deserves.
His ex-homes are all closed to him, he will not be allowed in, and therefore unable to asset strip, hopefully now there is light at the end of the tunnel for all of his victims. I know certain people are already interested in cashing in on his misfortune, and hopefully I might still have an even better laugh at his expense, he doesn't know what he missed when I left his employ and revenge is sweet.
So GOODBYE Mr DOG-BREATH, GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH
For those who are interested here is a link to the current liabilities, this is already easily availble on the net so this is nothing Eaglecrest Liabilities
Thursday, 10 February 2011
SVA Report
Well the investigation took place yesterday and as I thought apart from a few minor points, we passed with flying colours. My insistence of my staff to ensure that everything they do is recorded has finally got through to them and our audit trail was complete in almost every area.
We are not perfect, there were as I said a few minor points, but we can deal with these very quickly and as I have a staff meeting this afternoon it will be great to be able to congratulate my staff on being so conscientious with their recording, then discuss the few small flaws.
The investigating social workers are aware that the home is an ongoing development, and that I have only been in post for 14 months and what we have achieved in that time is nothing short of remarkable.
It does make me have a wry smile on my face though as Lord Lang stated that he didn't want any common people to sit on one of his committees, yet a monkey could do his job as he so aptly proves, but Lord Lang couldn't do my job at all, even after 12 months training as it takes more than an arrogant, pompous, egotistical upper class twit to do what my staff and I do.
We are not perfect, there were as I said a few minor points, but we can deal with these very quickly and as I have a staff meeting this afternoon it will be great to be able to congratulate my staff on being so conscientious with their recording, then discuss the few small flaws.
The investigating social workers are aware that the home is an ongoing development, and that I have only been in post for 14 months and what we have achieved in that time is nothing short of remarkable.
It does make me have a wry smile on my face though as Lord Lang stated that he didn't want any common people to sit on one of his committees, yet a monkey could do his job as he so aptly proves, but Lord Lang couldn't do my job at all, even after 12 months training as it takes more than an arrogant, pompous, egotistical upper class twit to do what my staff and I do.
Friday, 4 February 2011
Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Investigations and the Damage They Can Do.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults (SVA) is a very important part of care of the elderly and in fact all vulnerable adults, but in my opinion, working as a frontline Care Home Manager this has not been well thought through and it appears to me, that in this time of cut backs and reduction of services, an obscene amount of money, resources, time and heartache is caused by this important and very relevant law, being misused, and in some cases abused by certain people, whereas if common sense guidelines were introduced this may save a great deal of time, resources, money and in some cases heartache.
As usual my anti-politician stance has come to the forefront here, as at times I look at the laws and can see the flaws, usually in a very short space of time, purely by using commonsense. I feel that many of the people who influence our laws help to write up policies such as SVA are out of touch, or dare I say have never worked in frontline management positions and will draw on other ‘experts’ to help guide them, who themselves may have the university degree or the higher education, but lack the inner knowledge that only comes with experience.
I was also very concerned to read this week, that one poor baby had died because its alcoholic mother had left him in front of the gas fire, and that she had cancelled 17 YES 17 meetings to review her case. Now certain people are saying that children’s services should have unannounced inspections as a matter of course.
Wake up please!!!! Care homes for the elderly have had unannounced inspections for at least the last 6 – 7 years, and they can be very harsh. Again I can only assume that the ‘experts’ deemed this unnecessary for children at risk!
In the past 6 months I have had two SVA investigations at my home, with a third due on Wednesday 9th February 2011. I am going to give examples of where this system is completely failing in being cost effective, best use of resources and time consuming by box ticking to protect departments as opposed to people.
Case 1
Last year my Nepalese night staff rang me up to say that she had called the ambulance for Mrs A. My night staff had a sore throat and was having difficulty in speaking clearly, she also has an accent, but in my opinion is one of the best night staff I have ever employed in 40 years.
Apparently Mrs. A. had demanded that an ambulance be called as she was in ‘terrible pain’. I was aware that she had been suffering from constipation and that I was taking her to a hospital appointment later on that morning. I asked my night staff if the ambulance crew were there and she said yes and I asked to speak to them. I thoroughly explained the situation to the crew, explained she also had a history of Angina and that under the Mental Capacity Act, as she had capacity we had no right to refuse to call an ambulance.
The next thing I know, the ambulance crew had made a SVA referral, stating that they could not understand the night staff, (failing to mention that they had spoken with the manager) and that the toilet door was broken (it wasn’t) no toilet paper (the roll had been placed by Mrs. A. on the floor) and that the room was in a disgusting mess (Mrs A. has mental health problems and we have to work around those problems!)
First an investigating social worker had to come out and inspect the home. She then returned at a later date to interview my night staff. Then there were two SVA meetings which had in total:
1 Senior Practitioner
1 Investigating Social Worker
1 Minute taker
1 Care home manager
Oh and the ambulance service were invited to attend but declined!
This investigating meeting lasted about 40 minutes and then closed with another meeting being arranged for the future.
The second meeting took place and the following people attended:
1 Senior Practitioner
1 Investigating Social Worker
1 Minute taker
1 Care home manager
Oh and the ambulance service were invited to attend but declined!
At the end of the meeting where the concerns were unfounded, I raised the question, why did the ambulance crew decide to leave an elderly lady in her 80’s with what were obviously severe stomach cramps due to constipation and not her sake take her to the A&E to be checked over, in particular as when I took her to her appointment later I the day she was immediately admitted to hospital which gave my staff the time to clean her room, the only time they usually get to do this as she is resistant to this being done.
Case 2
Miss B. was admitted to my care home initially for respite and assessment due to severe personal neglect. Her toe nails were so long it took the chiropodist almost an hour to cut them, under her breasts were red raw and no one was certain the last time she had eaten, or even gone to bed.
Miss B. suffers from depression and has an unrealistic view of her being able to cope at home. The Social services took Miss B. home with the help of Occupational Therapists to see if she could safely reheat a pre-packet and cooked meal. She failed even that simple test. She was then made a full time resident at my home for her own safety and well being.
We were concerned one day that her cycle of depression was taking rather longer than we had experienced in the past to lift and that it was affecting her appetite. The GP was called and he prescribed an anti-depressant, at no time did he come and talk to the manager, me!
The next thing I know we are having another SVA investigation because the GP thought that we were failing to meet her needs! So here we go again. A senior practitioner attended with another social worker, the manager of the care home and Miss. B’s brother and best friend who was also her next door neighbour.
Again after at least another 40 minutes of having another meeting the concern was unfounded.
In case 1 & 2 professionals had been involved, in case 1 the ambulance crew did speak to myself, but didn’t ask any questions of the me relating to the room, or their concerns, had they had done so the cost of the investigation, which no one from the ambulance service attended would have been saved.
In case 2 the GP another professional should have spoken to the manager and then looked at his notes and possibly spoken with the Social Services and Miss B’s Psychiatrist, this would have prevented another huge waste of time and resources, by the way the GP didn’t attend the investigation!
Case 3
This is different and has led to a level 4 investigation of my home!
I very reluctantly took in a homeless woman, Mrs C. early in December 2010 when we had the very bad weather. This was at the request of the Social Services for one weeks respite. At the end of the week I contacted the Social worker who had placed this woman and I was told to ask her to leave. Then later I received another phone call to state that due to the extremely cold weather another weeks respite had been granted. At this time I raised concerns that this woman was not needing residential care, she was under age (under 60) and was self sufficient, I also had concerns for my vulnerable residents as she was smoking in room and was asking for money and cigarettes from my elderly residents.
This woman had a personality disorder which was very apparent. The respite kept getting extended until about 9th January 2011, where a bed and breakfast was found for her, but true to form, she managed to be very rude to a person at the B&B and effectively made herself homeless again, leaving the majority of her belongings cluttering up our front hall.
Once she had left, Mrs C tried to return claiming that she had left a kettle in the room she had occupied and I went to check with another member of staff as a witness. No kettle was found and I asked Mrs C to leave the grounds.
The next thing I know, I have a level 4 investigation because this woman had telephoned the Care Quality Commission and made a complaint that we were not meeting the needs of our residents and that they were in danger.
This woman can barely string together cohesive thoughts to the end of the subject without digressing to make out she is always a victim! When I realised that she would stay with us over Christmas, despite my vocal reluctance expressed to her Social Worker, I went out and purchased her a Christmas present so that she wasn’t the only one in the home without a present.
The level 4 investigation is going to take:
2 Social Workers
The Care Home Manager
The Deputy for the care home.
To me all of these cases have one thing in common, misuse of a system designed to help vulnerable people. Common sense is needed, in particular with the professionals who have expressed their concern, but on both occasions have declined to attend meetings or even in one case even talk to the manager who knows every resident extremely well.
CQC are at fault as well, I know we have to take complaints seriously otherwise it is easy for vulnerable people to fall through the net, but knowing Mrs. C and her inability to make a cohesive statement without going off at tangents should have sent alarm bells ringing, so as not to waste time and resources a quick call to the local Social Services offices could have put this to bed without costing another huge amount of cost and resources.
This is the fault of politicians, not just the current crop, but Labour were in power for 13 years. Ticking boxes has become obsessive and I think that this takes place of common sense and the actual care required. This is just one care homes experience, what if 10% of all care homes in East Sussex experienced this, has anyone worked out the cost?
Then to get even more frightening, multiply that 10% across the whole country and see what figure is arrived at. There has to be a simple effective way of filtering these alerts.
For professionals a simple questionnaire before progressing, e.g. have you raised your concerns with the manager and did you get an acceptable response? If they still wish to progress make sure they attend the meetings and not hide away.
For people like Mrs. C. ring the local office, if this person is known and has a history of being difficult or evasive then maybe a more casual approach should be taken involving a brief drop in unannounced visit by a social worker.
The savings for using a common sense approach rather than how many boxes have we ticked, could save this country a huge amount of time, money and resources.
Saturday, 29 January 2011
Cuts at a Cost to Peoples Health
I have to say I don't agree with everything David Cameron and his puppet government are saying and doing, in fact, I think that these people, many of whom have been brought up in a privileged way and have never had to struggle to make ends meet are completely out of touch with the ordinary people.
Last night, well really early this morning, my mobile which is always next to my bed went off. It was a call from my night staff, 'Bert has fallen, and cut his head open,'
'OK', I sighed, 'I shall come out' I have had to put a rule in place that I am called before any ambulance is called because there was a complaint that my Nepalese night staff cannot be understood by the ambulance call centre which had resulted in an adult protection alert by a ambulance crew attending in the past, unfounded but costing us a lot of money and me having to put very strong policies in place. My Nepalese night staff is brilliant, I couldn't ask for a more caring or more conscientiousness member of staff to be on at night.
So on went my clothes and off I went back to the home. Bert had got out of bed to go to the toilet and had got his foot tangled in a blanket and had fallen with hell of a bang. My night staff had done everything right, staunching the flow of blood by direct pressure, and had it almost completely under control. I took one look and called the ambulance as he had a deep cut about two inches long on the right hand side of his forehead. They came quickly and as I thought Bert was taken to hospital for treatment. I was told by the ambulance crew that they would not be able to transport him back when he was finished.
So back to bed for about two hours of broken sleep (ha ha) waiting for my mobile to go off again, which it did at about 4am. I went and got Bert and returned him back to the home, but gave up going back to bed myself as I know that as I normally do I will be back in work this morning as I have another resident who is 103 today and I have a cake on order, I want to make sure everything is arranged for this afternoon.
I can't believe that the ambulance cannot transport people back from hospital,which they did in the very recent past. There has been no communication by any official about this sudden change, so people like me who actually really care about elderly residents have to continually put ourselves out. My gripe about this is that for at least the past three weeks I haven't had one full day off. I have worked on average 10 - 11 hours Monday - Friday, been into work for up to three hours on Saturday, and receive phone calls or text messages from staff about being too sick to come into work, even though I am the oldest member of staff and I haven't had a day off sick for 13 months, and I have been on call for the majority of that time.
This government, no all politicians are completely out of touch, and some are still fiddling their expenses, others trying to find loopholes to abuse, and more complaining about how unfair the expenses system now is, but they are the ones who have abused the system, and they get paid a damn sight more than me or nurses, or carers, who continually work flat out to help others whilst these people tell us how hard they work on our behalf and they deserve everything they get - WHY?
Bercow to me is a complete biased fool led by his mouthy wife. Cameron, Clegg, Miliband, Balls, Harman, Cable and everyone else seems to be so far removed from what is really being felt by ordinary people, that they might as well be governing another country, on another planet, in another galaxy. I know we have to cut back, but politicians led us into this depression, but it is the ordinary person who hurts the most, whilst these silver spoon millionaires walk around almost telling us how good we have got it. GET REAL!!
Monday, 17 January 2011
At Last - Just Deserves For An Extremely Moral Less Man
I am sure the press will not want to miss this event and I am sure that they will soon be able to publish the name of the person I have been blogging about for at least the past year and finally his just deserves have been delivered to him, but before we go into the details of what has happened here is yet another warning to anyone who wants to work for this b'stard.
Today I found out that his staff in one home were having to work without even the most basic Personal Protective Equipment namely gloves. What makes this even more ironic is that this home has just completed Infection Control Training, I wonder what CQC and Health and Safety would say if they were informed? Maybe a quick telephone call should be made to them, after all it is important that both staff and residents should be protected, in particular as in dementia homes double incontinence is not unusual.
Not only that though, they do not even have any paper towels to dry their hands on, what a way to run a care home. The owner has had plans to become a millionaire care home magnate, what he really is is a woman abuser, a careless, moral less, stupid liar who will at the drop of a hat employ solicitors to protect his 'Good' name. The sooner this man is publicly humiliated the better, the only person I feel sorry for is his daughter as she will soon learn in the most cruel way really what her parents are like. Yes I have included his wife as she has covered up and tried to clean up and disguise what her husband has done and become.
Today I found out that his staff in one home were having to work without even the most basic Personal Protective Equipment namely gloves. What makes this even more ironic is that this home has just completed Infection Control Training, I wonder what CQC and Health and Safety would say if they were informed? Maybe a quick telephone call should be made to them, after all it is important that both staff and residents should be protected, in particular as in dementia homes double incontinence is not unusual.
Not only that though, they do not even have any paper towels to dry their hands on, what a way to run a care home. The owner has had plans to become a millionaire care home magnate, what he really is is a woman abuser, a careless, moral less, stupid liar who will at the drop of a hat employ solicitors to protect his 'Good' name. The sooner this man is publicly humiliated the better, the only person I feel sorry for is his daughter as she will soon learn in the most cruel way really what her parents are like. Yes I have included his wife as she has covered up and tried to clean up and disguise what her husband has done and become.
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Has He Been Banned?
That wonderful ex-employer of mine who is such a nasty human being, who I have named Dog Breath (becuause of his foul breath) hasn't been seen in the Eastbourne home for quite a while now, instead his wife is doing the visits.
I actually wonder why his wife (Mrs Dog Breath)has stood by him after having had her world fall through the floor when hearing about what her husband was accused of, but then she is cut from the same cloth. No morals, no interest in any one other than herself, unfair, a liar and totally delusional.
It makes you wonder have things finally caught up with him? The case that has been brought against him is still ongoing, because the slimy toad is wriggling at every turn, telling lies, but getting caught out. Still the judge seems to have his measure as she isn't leaving any room for him to lodge an appeal over some slight mishandling, so she has afforded him yet another stay of execution. I just feel so sorry for the person who is still waiting for justice as this nasty, slimy creep still tries to squirm his way out of trouble.
The home itself is failing to hold onto staff still, and the reports going around are of a very unhappy home with staffing issues, mainly because good staff now avoid this home like the plague. One resident managed to fall down the stairs and survived, what I have been informed, was a broken neck. This was a lovely resident always chatting, now in pain and apparently just sitting in the lounge without saying much apart form appearing to be in pain, which is heart wrenching for those who are still there and knew her before.
I still haven't heard anybody from the Social Services have a good word to say about the home or its owners, and the word is that they are trying to wind up the company, it is thought as both the company and Mr Dog Breath were being taken to court over the accusations. I heard that when informed of this the judge turned to Mr. Dog Breath and said it wasn't just about the company, but about him so he would still be liable.
Next instalment when I get enough news to pass on.
I actually wonder why his wife (Mrs Dog Breath)has stood by him after having had her world fall through the floor when hearing about what her husband was accused of, but then she is cut from the same cloth. No morals, no interest in any one other than herself, unfair, a liar and totally delusional.
It makes you wonder have things finally caught up with him? The case that has been brought against him is still ongoing, because the slimy toad is wriggling at every turn, telling lies, but getting caught out. Still the judge seems to have his measure as she isn't leaving any room for him to lodge an appeal over some slight mishandling, so she has afforded him yet another stay of execution. I just feel so sorry for the person who is still waiting for justice as this nasty, slimy creep still tries to squirm his way out of trouble.
The home itself is failing to hold onto staff still, and the reports going around are of a very unhappy home with staffing issues, mainly because good staff now avoid this home like the plague. One resident managed to fall down the stairs and survived, what I have been informed, was a broken neck. This was a lovely resident always chatting, now in pain and apparently just sitting in the lounge without saying much apart form appearing to be in pain, which is heart wrenching for those who are still there and knew her before.
I still haven't heard anybody from the Social Services have a good word to say about the home or its owners, and the word is that they are trying to wind up the company, it is thought as both the company and Mr Dog Breath were being taken to court over the accusations. I heard that when informed of this the judge turned to Mr. Dog Breath and said it wasn't just about the company, but about him so he would still be liable.
Next instalment when I get enough news to pass on.
Saturday, 6 November 2010
Saw an Advert Today
Well Mr Dog Breath is running out of carers in his home in Eastbourne. Great big advert in the Friday Ad, but the homes name wasn't mentioned, could it be because if the home is named there would be little or no response to the advert, well at least from the best carers?
I would have loved to have run an advert next to it saying.
"If you get a job in this home expect to be abused and used, and when you decide you have had enough and want to leave, expect your final pay packet to be raided so this evil home owner can claw back every penny for himself, Oh and if you're female, WATCH OUT!"
Unfortunately don't think the Friday Ad would that though.
On a more upbeat note my home now has 18 residents and had 3 emergency admissions in under a week, came through Adult Protection Investigation with flying colours (see this link) and I am helping another home owner find a good manager.
Mr Dog Breath doesn't know what he lost when he messed with me!!
Lastly Mr Dog Breath was on Facebook, left him open to get reminders from me about new Blogs about him and his business, he has suddenly disappeared, I am so upset (Ha Ha Ha) mind you he only had about three friends and one of those was his daughter!
I would have loved to have run an advert next to it saying.
"If you get a job in this home expect to be abused and used, and when you decide you have had enough and want to leave, expect your final pay packet to be raided so this evil home owner can claw back every penny for himself, Oh and if you're female, WATCH OUT!"
Unfortunately don't think the Friday Ad would that though.
On a more upbeat note my home now has 18 residents and had 3 emergency admissions in under a week, came through Adult Protection Investigation with flying colours (see this link) and I am helping another home owner find a good manager.
Mr Dog Breath doesn't know what he lost when he messed with me!!
Lastly Mr Dog Breath was on Facebook, left him open to get reminders from me about new Blogs about him and his business, he has suddenly disappeared, I am so upset (Ha Ha Ha) mind you he only had about three friends and one of those was his daughter!
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Double Standards by an Ambulance Crew!
Last Thursday 28th October my night staff rang me and left a message on my answerphone to say that she was ringing 999 to call an ambulance as one of my residents had asked for an ambulance to be called as she was in so much pain, and had used the words, ‘I’m dying’. The call to my phone was at 5.51am, before 6am I rang her back and after a very brief discussion I was handed over to the attending ambulance crew.
I gave this crew member full information including what I knew to be wrong with this resident, (Chronic constipation), the fact that we had called the GP the day before and requested a home visit, which was refused! And that I was taking her to a hospital appointment later that morning.
I thought that that would be the end of it, but boy was I wrong!!!
This ambulance crew member despite talking to me, the manager, decided to call Social Services and place an adult protection alert. When I found out I was furious, a few simple questions and everything could have been made clear, but this spineless individual decided to let others do his work for him, and when the investigation took place I found out what the complaint involved and I was even more angry and made it known to the investigating officer.
It appears that they thought that my night staff didn’t have good enough spoken English for them!! Yet she communicates with the staff including accurate handovers, and the residents and they can all understand her. I also found out that it was stated that the residents toilet door was broken and there was no toilet roll in the toilet and they had concerns about this residents living conditions.
As I said earlier whilst he had me on the phone a few well placed questions would have sorted all this out. My night staff can make decisions and acted appropriately, she made the correct legible entry in the day notes and contacted the on call phone. Whereas the ambulance crew did nothing, here was a lady with chronic constipation who had only recently been released from hospital, and they walked away.
This resident has mental capacity although some short term memory loss, but knows when she is in pain. She also has mental health problems and cleaning here room to the homes satisfaction has to be organised with military precision, getting her agreement in writing with day and date, even then she is resistant, this is all well recorded. Also whenever she is admitted to hospital her room is cleaned as quickly and as thoroughly as possible including washing all her clothes.
Her toilet door wasn’t broken as reported and there was toilet paper in the toilet, but the toilet roll holder was broken (now replaced) as most people know that the elderly will use anything to help themselves get up, even if there is a grab rail in place, and by its very nature of where it is placed, a toilet roll holder is a handy aid to get up!
I was able to show the investigating officer, daily notes, GP proforma, Care Plans, Risk Assessments, Night staff file, New Emergency file if ambulance has to be called, Training matrix, letters to residents solicitor, hospital transfer letters. Copies of many of these were taken and it was obvious that our audit trail was very complete, I was asked to complete a risk assessment for this residents health and this was done within the next 24 hours and the emergency file was completely updated and improved.
Why am I complaining so bitterly?
I saw this as a moral-less, spineless attack on my night staff, almost racial discrimination, also an attack on the home, in particular as the crew member who I believe made the complaint actually spoke to the manager of the home (me) and raised no concerns at the time, but had to do it in such a way that resources have been squandered, in particular as the home has just had three emergency admissions and I have been deflected away from writing the care plans for these people.
It seems to me that certain ambulance crew members see themselves as judge and jury without full knowledge, are not prepared to ask questions before acting like a bull in a china shop, but they can walk away from an elderly vulnerable resident in pain, without taking any action and get away scot free.
There are real double standards here, but bet if I made a complaint to the ambulance service now, it would be seen as getting revenge rather than trying to ensure that my residents get fair treatment and the home is dealt with in a fair and unbiased manner including its staff.
I gave this crew member full information including what I knew to be wrong with this resident, (Chronic constipation), the fact that we had called the GP the day before and requested a home visit, which was refused! And that I was taking her to a hospital appointment later that morning.
I thought that that would be the end of it, but boy was I wrong!!!
This ambulance crew member despite talking to me, the manager, decided to call Social Services and place an adult protection alert. When I found out I was furious, a few simple questions and everything could have been made clear, but this spineless individual decided to let others do his work for him, and when the investigation took place I found out what the complaint involved and I was even more angry and made it known to the investigating officer.
It appears that they thought that my night staff didn’t have good enough spoken English for them!! Yet she communicates with the staff including accurate handovers, and the residents and they can all understand her. I also found out that it was stated that the residents toilet door was broken and there was no toilet roll in the toilet and they had concerns about this residents living conditions.
As I said earlier whilst he had me on the phone a few well placed questions would have sorted all this out. My night staff can make decisions and acted appropriately, she made the correct legible entry in the day notes and contacted the on call phone. Whereas the ambulance crew did nothing, here was a lady with chronic constipation who had only recently been released from hospital, and they walked away.
This resident has mental capacity although some short term memory loss, but knows when she is in pain. She also has mental health problems and cleaning here room to the homes satisfaction has to be organised with military precision, getting her agreement in writing with day and date, even then she is resistant, this is all well recorded. Also whenever she is admitted to hospital her room is cleaned as quickly and as thoroughly as possible including washing all her clothes.
Her toilet door wasn’t broken as reported and there was toilet paper in the toilet, but the toilet roll holder was broken (now replaced) as most people know that the elderly will use anything to help themselves get up, even if there is a grab rail in place, and by its very nature of where it is placed, a toilet roll holder is a handy aid to get up!
I was able to show the investigating officer, daily notes, GP proforma, Care Plans, Risk Assessments, Night staff file, New Emergency file if ambulance has to be called, Training matrix, letters to residents solicitor, hospital transfer letters. Copies of many of these were taken and it was obvious that our audit trail was very complete, I was asked to complete a risk assessment for this residents health and this was done within the next 24 hours and the emergency file was completely updated and improved.
Why am I complaining so bitterly?
I saw this as a moral-less, spineless attack on my night staff, almost racial discrimination, also an attack on the home, in particular as the crew member who I believe made the complaint actually spoke to the manager of the home (me) and raised no concerns at the time, but had to do it in such a way that resources have been squandered, in particular as the home has just had three emergency admissions and I have been deflected away from writing the care plans for these people.
It seems to me that certain ambulance crew members see themselves as judge and jury without full knowledge, are not prepared to ask questions before acting like a bull in a china shop, but they can walk away from an elderly vulnerable resident in pain, without taking any action and get away scot free.
There are real double standards here, but bet if I made a complaint to the ambulance service now, it would be seen as getting revenge rather than trying to ensure that my residents get fair treatment and the home is dealt with in a fair and unbiased manner including its staff.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Another Titbit About He Who Must Not Be Named
I heard yesterday that the solicitors he employed to help him with defending his case that K**** has brought against him has suddenly hit a brick wall.
It appears that his solicitors Cohen's have pulled out of representing him. Knowing how difficult he is to deal with I can understand this and sympathise with the solicitors as this man never sees himself as being in the wrong or even capable of being wrong.
I must say when I got the news the reply text was, "Ha Ha Ha".
Hopefully he has shot himself in the foot and he will lose this case and it will lead to his demise.
I have also had to complain to CQC about this company as I have sent two reference requests to them and haven't even had an acknowledgement, but they insist on getting references themselves, he does like double standards and his wife is no better.
It appears that his solicitors Cohen's have pulled out of representing him. Knowing how difficult he is to deal with I can understand this and sympathise with the solicitors as this man never sees himself as being in the wrong or even capable of being wrong.
I must say when I got the news the reply text was, "Ha Ha Ha".
Hopefully he has shot himself in the foot and he will lose this case and it will lead to his demise.
I have also had to complain to CQC about this company as I have sent two reference requests to them and haven't even had an acknowledgement, but they insist on getting references themselves, he does like double standards and his wife is no better.
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Revenge is Sweet
Things for my previous employer are going from bad to worse, and no one feels any sympathy for him!
Poor Leah had her check cancelled by him before it could be cleared, I heard today (26/10/10) that she finally did get paid, but only after she had to suffer at his hands again.
K**** is winning her case against this evil man, to the extent that his offers went up from a laughable amount to £18,00 in two jumps, but now he knows he will lose and could find himself on the sex offenders register, not only that but I am waiting to talk to CQC about him and his lack of action in a certain area.
I wonder if his daughter knows what a thoroughly nasty man her father is, and that he is at risk of being placed on the sex offenders register, has been thoroughly investigated by the police who have suspicions of further dubious dealings from this person?
Me I am smiling all over my face, and mainly thanks to a phone call from K**** last night with the latest episode, and an article today by Janet Street-Porter about revenge and how sweet it really is, had me laughing and of course I couldn't help but make a comment about this previous employer and the way revenge is being played out, it may be coming via a third party, but many people are enjoying the terrible situation he now finds himself in.
One of the most interesting items to emerge from this is something that has now disappeared from the net, but originally you could Google 6328 / name of the company, (I still have to be careful or else he sets his dogs on me) and what you found was that it led you to the HM courts site which had this man's company listed as an application to be wound up. It appears this has been withdrawn, but it is all being followed by closely by many people, mainly ex-employees who have and axe to grind over his treatment of them. It is believed that this was a ploy to try and show that he had no money and was in dire straits, but what he doesn't know is that his web site with yet another business is still available to all and it is his name and reunion. Mind you the pictures of the apartment make it look like a tarts boudoir!, but that just shows how common he is.
I am sure that with all the information that can be readily gathered from the net alone (I have saved this site in case it gets removed!!) that K**** should be able to achieve a reasonable settlement for what she has had to put up with.
I did a search on the CQC website today just for the address of one of his homes locally and it doesn't show at all, that means that prospective clients will not be able to find this home either which will mean an advertising chance gone astray and hopefully a lack of prospective residents.
Finally just on a personal note, his breath hasn't improved apparently, it still smells as if he shits through his mouth, but then he is good at Bullshit so maybe it is just all coming out.
Poor Leah had her check cancelled by him before it could be cleared, I heard today (26/10/10) that she finally did get paid, but only after she had to suffer at his hands again.
K**** is winning her case against this evil man, to the extent that his offers went up from a laughable amount to £18,00 in two jumps, but now he knows he will lose and could find himself on the sex offenders register, not only that but I am waiting to talk to CQC about him and his lack of action in a certain area.
I wonder if his daughter knows what a thoroughly nasty man her father is, and that he is at risk of being placed on the sex offenders register, has been thoroughly investigated by the police who have suspicions of further dubious dealings from this person?
Me I am smiling all over my face, and mainly thanks to a phone call from K**** last night with the latest episode, and an article today by Janet Street-Porter about revenge and how sweet it really is, had me laughing and of course I couldn't help but make a comment about this previous employer and the way revenge is being played out, it may be coming via a third party, but many people are enjoying the terrible situation he now finds himself in.
One of the most interesting items to emerge from this is something that has now disappeared from the net, but originally you could Google 6328 / name of the company, (I still have to be careful or else he sets his dogs on me) and what you found was that it led you to the HM courts site which had this man's company listed as an application to be wound up. It appears this has been withdrawn, but it is all being followed by closely by many people, mainly ex-employees who have and axe to grind over his treatment of them. It is believed that this was a ploy to try and show that he had no money and was in dire straits, but what he doesn't know is that his web site with yet another business is still available to all and it is his name and reunion. Mind you the pictures of the apartment make it look like a tarts boudoir!, but that just shows how common he is.
I am sure that with all the information that can be readily gathered from the net alone (I have saved this site in case it gets removed!!) that K**** should be able to achieve a reasonable settlement for what she has had to put up with.
I did a search on the CQC website today just for the address of one of his homes locally and it doesn't show at all, that means that prospective clients will not be able to find this home either which will mean an advertising chance gone astray and hopefully a lack of prospective residents.
Finally just on a personal note, his breath hasn't improved apparently, it still smells as if he shits through his mouth, but then he is good at Bullshit so maybe it is just all coming out.
Saturday, 4 September 2010
Latest News About My Ex-Employer
It gives me great satisfaction to report that I have a nice new cook at my latest home thanks to my ex-employer being unable to pay people correctly, she has already made a difference and both staff and residents are very happy.
Another member of his ex-staff has asked for my help in a case against him regarding non payment of annual leave she was unable to take as she was off sick with a pregnancy related illness.
Of course I have helped as much as I can and I have told this young lady I am also prepared to attend court as a witness for her as I can bring a lot of light to the way this appalling man treats his staff. He always claims to know and work within the law, but as been either taken to court or tribunal so often in the past that I'm surprised that he doesn't have a regular booking.
Thing is staff are leaving him in droves, his latest manager at his home where I used to work, already has a poor reputation around town, the tit bits I am picking up are leading me to suspect that the home will soon fall back to a zero star rating, already this home has lost the deputy manager of 11 years, cook and several long term member of staff, with another seriously looking for another job.
No one gives this man notice anymore as everyone has learnt that if you do he will abuse his position by making deductions from your final wage packet, whether entitled to or not, remember he made an unlawful deduction from my final salary, just before Christmas in 2009, and settled out of court in full, about three months after Christmas, this is one extremely nasty man.
Another member of his ex-staff has asked for my help in a case against him regarding non payment of annual leave she was unable to take as she was off sick with a pregnancy related illness.
Of course I have helped as much as I can and I have told this young lady I am also prepared to attend court as a witness for her as I can bring a lot of light to the way this appalling man treats his staff. He always claims to know and work within the law, but as been either taken to court or tribunal so often in the past that I'm surprised that he doesn't have a regular booking.
Thing is staff are leaving him in droves, his latest manager at his home where I used to work, already has a poor reputation around town, the tit bits I am picking up are leading me to suspect that the home will soon fall back to a zero star rating, already this home has lost the deputy manager of 11 years, cook and several long term member of staff, with another seriously looking for another job.
No one gives this man notice anymore as everyone has learnt that if you do he will abuse his position by making deductions from your final wage packet, whether entitled to or not, remember he made an unlawful deduction from my final salary, just before Christmas in 2009, and settled out of court in full, about three months after Christmas, this is one extremely nasty man.
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Suing CQC
Heard the latest?
A certain idiot who I used to work for has decided in his wisdom to sue CQC. I believe this is factual, but this has had me in giggles for at least two days, even if it is untrue, which I doubt.
The reason for this event is that this idiot is blaming CQC for one of his homes only having 14 out of a possible 44 residents, the fact that all his homes (to the best of my knowledge) all have only a 1 star rating, because of him hasn't entered his tiny mind.
Take my case for an example. At his home in Eastbourne I was officially manager number 8 in under 5 years, and I was one of the longest serving in that home as I lasted a whole 10 months, unofficially I was number 12.
This same pattern has been repeated throughout all the homes this man owns, which makes you realise that there is only one common denominator which is himself. He is the one who interferes, who upsets people, who is unjust, unfair. I had to take him to tribunal, or should I say he settled before it got that far. Other managers and staff have also taken him to tribunal or the small claims court and I believe most, if not all have won against him and he has at least one case pending for September 30th where he will not be able to settle out of court, that one will go the whole way and the result could have him banned from entering any of the homes he owns, but of course that is not his fault.
I also believe that at least another two staff are lining up to take him to small claims or tribunal.
So lets get back to this wonderful piece of news, I openly offer my services to CQC to show what sort of man this is, I am more than prepared to offer myself as an anti character witness against him, I have to state very clearly after the way I was treated and what he put me and my family through revenge would be sweet, and if others who have worked for him know about this I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a queue to assist CQC and hopefully watch him and his business empire crash and burn, maybe I shall send them an email this morning to offer my services, mind you I think they have enough on this foul plonker to win without any problem at all, they won't even break into sweat, if anyone deserves this it is him and his wife.
A certain idiot who I used to work for has decided in his wisdom to sue CQC. I believe this is factual, but this has had me in giggles for at least two days, even if it is untrue, which I doubt.
The reason for this event is that this idiot is blaming CQC for one of his homes only having 14 out of a possible 44 residents, the fact that all his homes (to the best of my knowledge) all have only a 1 star rating, because of him hasn't entered his tiny mind.
Take my case for an example. At his home in Eastbourne I was officially manager number 8 in under 5 years, and I was one of the longest serving in that home as I lasted a whole 10 months, unofficially I was number 12.
This same pattern has been repeated throughout all the homes this man owns, which makes you realise that there is only one common denominator which is himself. He is the one who interferes, who upsets people, who is unjust, unfair. I had to take him to tribunal, or should I say he settled before it got that far. Other managers and staff have also taken him to tribunal or the small claims court and I believe most, if not all have won against him and he has at least one case pending for September 30th where he will not be able to settle out of court, that one will go the whole way and the result could have him banned from entering any of the homes he owns, but of course that is not his fault.
I also believe that at least another two staff are lining up to take him to small claims or tribunal.
So lets get back to this wonderful piece of news, I openly offer my services to CQC to show what sort of man this is, I am more than prepared to offer myself as an anti character witness against him, I have to state very clearly after the way I was treated and what he put me and my family through revenge would be sweet, and if others who have worked for him know about this I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a queue to assist CQC and hopefully watch him and his business empire crash and burn, maybe I shall send them an email this morning to offer my services, mind you I think they have enough on this foul plonker to win without any problem at all, they won't even break into sweat, if anyone deserves this it is him and his wife.
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