A care home in Erith has been told that it requires improvement following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The care home, located on 101 Brook Street and named after its location, was inspected on Thursday, September 14, with the report being officially published on Friday (November 3).

The last rating for this service was good (published October 24, 2017).

Run by Ambient Support Limited, the care home specialises in accommodation for people who require nursing or personal care, caring for adults, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments.

During the inspection, the CQC spoke with three residents and three relatives of residents who used the service about their experience of the care provided.

They also spoke with three members of care staff, the registered manager, the deputy manager, and the locality manager.

As well as this, the CQC carried out observations of care provided in the communal areas and reviewed a range of records.

After the inspection, the CQC rated the care home the following:

Safe: Requires improvement

Effective: Requires improvement

Caring: Good

Responsive: Requires improvement

Well-led: Requires improvement

The report found that out of the total six bedrooms, there were two bedrooms which had a gap between the mattress and headboard.

As a result, one person suffered injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

A spokesperson for Ambient Support says they have “acted immediately” to make the changes, and have implemented a “turnaround action plan” after the CQC visit.

According to the CQC report, there was no risk assessment, and no action was taken to mitigate this risk, prior to the incident.

Despite the incident in August 2023, a similar risk remained in another bedroom and the bed was in use without any risk mitigation measures in place.

The CQC also found that in both these bedrooms the head and foot boards of these beds were not covered with safety pads, to avoid further potential risks to people.

The CQC therefore found people were not protected from avoidable harm and the care home was consequently told it requires improvement under the safe category.

However, they found some positive aspects of culture as well, including having a system to monitor accidents and incidents, management structure and staff being supported.

A spokesperson for Ambient Support says the wellbeing safety and care of the people that use Ambient Support services are their “number one priority”.

The CQC report suggests that people were provided for in a well-furnished and well-maintained environment which met their needs, however, there was a broken door of the dining room but work was in progress to repair this.

The CQC will request an action plan to “understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety”.

As well as this, the CQC will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress and continue to monitor information they receive about the service.

The full statement from Ambient Support reads: “Ambient Support can confirm that we have implemented a turnaround action plan after shortcomings were identified at our Brook Street service following a CQC visit.

“Ambient Support fully accepted the findings of the inspection report and has acted immediately to make changes to both working practices and the management structure at the service.

“The wellbeing safety and care of the people that use Ambient Support services are our number one priority.

“The charity and its staff teams are fully committed to the continuous improvement of all our services.”