Nursing home failed in its duty over claims
St Peter’s Nursing Home in Castlebellingham was also found to have failed to report allegations of abuse or to investigate them internally.
St Peter’s had 39 residents in its care when Hiqa made an unannounced inspection last January.
The review was triggered by the watchdog’s receipt of unsolicited information outlining what it calls “significant issues of concern” regarding the care and welfare of residents.
Yesterday’s report says many of those issues were substantiated during the inspection.
“Inspectors found major non-compliances in seven of the eight outcomes inspected,” says the report. “Significant improvements were required in relation to the governance and management of adverse incidents and allegations, suspicions and reported abuse, training, skill mix and supervision of staff and of their understanding of required procedures and policies to protect residents from abuse or harm, mitigate risks and manage complaints.”
The previous months had seen an increase in adverse events and serious incidents involving residents and a significant number of them had not been reported appropriately within the organisation.
Allegations, suspicions, and reported abuse had not been notified to the authority or chief inspector, as required. Neither were allegations of staff misconduct brought to the attention of the authority.
The owner, Costern, had failed in its legal duty to report allegations of staff misconduct to the watchdog. It had also failed to report allegations of abuse to Hiqa or to investigate them internally in accordance with its own procedures.
There had been a high turnover in nursing and care staff in the previous 12 months and gaps found in clinical records did not demonstrate a high standard of evidence-based nursing care.
Gaps were identified in staff training and supervision arrangements. While the programme of training was ongoing, all staff did not have access to appropriate training relevant to meet all residents’ needs.
All staff were not adequately trained in positive behaviour support and or managing challenging behaviours, including de-escalation and intervention techniques.
Elsewhere, a Hiqa inspection of the Sacred Heart Residence, run by the Little Sisters of the Poor in Raheney in Dublin, found major non-compliance with six of the nine standards reviewed.
The governance structure was not sufficiently robust to manage the 86-bed centre and the management team did not collectively have the required experience, qualifications, management, and leadership skills needed.
“The outcome on safeguarding and safety was found to be in major non-compliance with the regulations,” reads the report.
Examples of poor care practices included manual handling and incontinence care. Pressure sores were not notified to Hiqa within the required three-day period and a record of all incidents of them and their treatment was not made available to inspectors.
