Yorkshire assisted living firm in special measures after care inspectors found residents were locked in their rooms and living in dirty surroundings

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected Heathcotes Yorkshire Supported Living for people with a learning or physical disability, autism or mental health problem.

The company runs six living blocks across the region, and was inspected after concerns were raised about safety issues at one of them.

Three inspectors visited the settings and identified safety breaches, including staff failing to keep residents safe from harm and preventable abuse.

Safeguarding concerns were not recorded or investigated properly, the CQC found, with some staff not receiving adequate training.

And inspectors found that some residents’ rights were being violated by placing restrictions on when they could leave their rooms.

The report read: “Restrictions were placed on some people without the lawful authority to do so. We observed people having to knock to get out of their flat and go in to the communal area.

“There were no checks of the environment to ensure standards of cleanliness were maintained to a high standard.

“During inspection, we found dirty toilets, dirty and damaged flooring, holes in walls, damaged furniture and we noted malodours in some people's homes.

“Whilst some of these concerns had been reported to the landlord for actioning, the provider had failed to assess how to ensure infection control was to be safely promoted in these areas

“Furniture was damaged in communal areas and the laundry room was disorganised and chaotic. This increased the risk of infection.”

Family members also expressed concern and dissatisfaction for the way their relatives had been treated by staff. One said: “"[Family member's] life has become significantly smaller since living there, they can no longer do the things they used to enjoy doing and have lost a lot of skills.”

Another said: "Staff just do not care about people in the service, [family member's] flat is dirty and food is mouldy and out of date. I don't think staff have the training or support to be able to care for people with complex needs, they don't support them with the things they need., I don't think staff respect us or [family member] at all.”

A spokesperson for Heathcotes said: “We take feedback from the CQC extremely seriously. We are committed to working closely with the CQC to bring our services to the high standard that the people we support and their families deserve. We have a comprehensive action plan in place that is being overseen by the new management team and look forward to demonstrating improvement at the next inspection.

“The health and welfare of the people we support is our number one priority.”

Heathcotes now has to provide an action plan to the CQC to show how it will improve, and will be reinspected within six months – with settings facing closure if no improvements are identified.