A FAILING care home beset by problems is to close its doors, it has emerged.

Bradford Council said it had been made aware of Qualia Care’s decision to cease operating services at Duchess Gardens Care Centre in Bingley.

While the reasons for the home’s closure have not been confirmed, it follows a damning inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

It uncovered a worrying catalogue of problems at the home, which has been rated ‘inadequate’ for its last three consecutive inspections.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Duchess Gardens received a damning CQC inspectionDuchess Gardens received a damning CQC inspection

The report said some of the concerns found at the latest inspection in March related to issues found in a previous one and people were “at risk of harm”.

Inspectors said many areas of the home appeared unclean, with stains on bedroom walls and dirty floors.

They also identified reports of people having injuries, but the cause was unknown.

“There was no evidence of a follow-up investigation or a referral to the relevant safeguarding authority,” said the report.

It added: “Unexplained injuries were not investigated to establish if there were signs of abuse. This meant we were not assured people were protected from the risk of injury or harm from abuse.”

Inspectors said safe recruitment practices were not followed and agency workers had cared for the home’s most vulnerable people “despite not being given any background information on the person's needs or choking risks”.

They found “continued breaches of regulations” and added: “We also found new regulatory breaches relating to safe environments, medicines, the safe recruitment of staff, privacy and dignity, safeguarding and infection prevention and control.”

The closure of the home has been described as a “distressing and worrying time”.

Paul Hunt, senior manager of the contract and quality team for Bradford Council, said: “Bradford Council has been made aware of the decision to cease operating services at Duchess Gardens Care Centre in Bingley by its owners Qualia Care.

“We recognise this is a very distressing and worrying time for the residents and their families and carers.

“In light of the decision, the Council’s Health and Wellbeing Department and local NHS partners will provide support to all residents to move to alternative care home accommodation as quickly and safely as possible.

“The welfare and safety of residents always remains our top priority and all residents will be fully supported during the move by registered nurses and Council social workers, to ensure their clinical care and wellbeing is maintained.”

The Telegraph & Argus approached Duchess Gardens for comment.