A residential care home has been rated “inadequate” by the CQC after a user claimed to have sustained serious harm.

The Farmhouse, on Wingletye Lane in Hornchurch, was visited by inspectors between September 6 and 9.

The facility provides personal care for up to seven people with a learning disability and autism.

A report published by the CQC on Thursday (December 14) said that the provider was not always assessing, monitoring and improving the quality and safety of the service.

Inspectors noted that people could be harmed on the premises and gave the example of windows restrictors that were not fitted properly to prevent people climbing out.

Care plans, the report claimed, lacked evidence that people were being involved in decisions about their care. Medicine management by the provider was criticised for not being safe and effective, with staff not always recording temperatures where medicines are stored.

Read More: 'Inadequate' Romford GP surgery visited by CQC inspectors

The agency staff employed by the provider were found to not have been given appropriate training to understand people’s care needs. There was also believed to be a lack of enough staff members to meet people’s needs.

This, the report said, resulted in people not being supported or able to take part in activities and visits in a way they wanted. The provider’s poor managerial oversight was also highlighted in the report.

A previous inspection, carried out in 2022, had pointed out four major breaches of regulations that included safeguarding users from abuse and improper treatment. The care home was said to require improvements at the time, and the follow-up visit by inspectors this year claimed that the service had worsened overall since then.

The current inspection was reportedly prompted by a specific incident in which a person using the service sustained serious harm. The provider is said to be undergoing a criminal investigation for the case so CQC did not examine its circumstances.

The inspectors however identified breaches in relation to safe care and treatment, good governance, privacy and dignity and safeguarding users from abuse among other issues.

The service has now been put in special measures and will be reviewed again by the CQC. The report added that if the authority does not propose to cancel the provider’s registration, it will re-inspect it within six months to check for significant improvements.

If the provider fails to show the recommended changes, the report said that the CQC will take enforcement action against the provider.

The Recorder contacted RG Care for comment.

The detailed CQC report can be found on this link: cqc.org.uk/location/1-9752878908