Doncaster care home needs to improve its standards according to inspectors

Three separate visits were made to Rowena House in Conisborough earlier this year by the Care Quality Commission.

Having previously been rated as good the inspectors found this was no longer the case.

Rowena House is a care home providing accommodation for up to 40 people, including people living with dementia, at the time of the inspection there were 33 people living there.

In the CQC report it was revealed people's experience of the home and what inspectors found.

It said: “We found the service had not always responded to risks related to people's deteriorating health in a timely way.

"There were systems in place to monitor the quality of service. However, there was room to improve these as they had not picked up the shortfalls we identified during the inspection process.”

However, it also said: “The provider had effective systems in place to safeguard people from the risks associated with abuse. Staff were trained and deployed effectively to ensure people's needs were met and people's medicines were managed safely overall. We found people were protected from the risk and spread of infection.”

It continued: “There was a real emphasis on learning lessons and improving the service. There was also evidence that feedback from people who used the service and their relatives had been sought and acted upon. People's care plans and risk assessments were being improved. There was also evidence of staff working in

partnership with other agencies. This helped deliver individualised care and supported people's access to healthcare services.

Initially, the CQC undertook this targeted inspection in part to follow up on specific concerns which it had received about staffing levels, medicines management and infection control. Following the visit, further concerns were received and a decision was made to extend the inspection to a focussed inspection, in order to

review the two key questions of Safe and Well led only.

"We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvement,” in concluded.

We approached Rowena House’s owners Runwood Homes but have not yet had a response.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Liam Hoden, editor.