TWO Bradford care homes remain in special measures following inspections by the Care Quality Commission.

The Gateway Care Home and Gateway Respite, which are run by All Saints Care and are on the same Sticker Lane site, dropped from a good rating to inadequate last year. Following a re-inspection recently, Gateway Respite has now been rated as requires improvement overall - but remains in special measures due to one of the key questions being rated as inadequate over two consecutive inspections. Gateway Care Home is still inadequate overall. 

A report by the CQC into Gateway Care Home outlined how the inspection in May focussed on two of the key questions around whether the service was safe and well-led. Both areas were rated as inadequate.

Inspectors found that: “People were not safe. Risks to people were not assessed and managed. Medicines were not managed safely. Lessons were not always learned when things went wrong. There were enough staff to keep people safe although there had been a high turnover of staff.

"The service was not well-led. There were continued breaches at this inspection with similarities to issues found at the last inspection in relation to risk management and governance. Systems to monitor quality and safety were not effective.”

On a positive note the report added: “The provider had strengthened how they managed accidents, incidents and safeguarding cases. People were generally positive about the staff who cared for them and their experience at the service.

"Staff said they felt supported and were complimentary about the management team who worked at the service on a day to day basis.”

However: “Feedback varied about the overarching management arrangements and role of the provider.”

A report into Gateway Respite detailed how inspectors focussed on the key questions around whether the service was safe, responsive and well-led. Safety was rated inadequate but the other two areas were rated as requiring improvement, leading to the overall rating rising.

It stated: “People were not always safe. Risks to people were assessed but care was not always delivered as detailed in their risk assessments and care plans. There were not enough staff available to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Improvements had been made in relation to managing medicines and safe systems were in place.

"The manager and staff understood safeguarding procedures and reports to the local authority were made as needed.  Systems were in place to make sure people lived in a safe and comfortable environment.”

Concerns were also raised about some residents spending long periods of time along in their rooms.

In addition some felt there had been improvements whilst others felt they were not responded to. 

A spokesperson said: “We take the CQC findings extremely seriously and we have made comprehensive improvements to the home.”

They added that “robust and positive” steps forward had been taken and that they were working closely with regulators to address the issues raised.

They said service users “remain our central focus for high quality care and support".