Home told to improve again

Ernelesthorp Manor and Lodge on Cow House Lane, Armthorpe has been heavily criticised again by the Care Quality Commission which said the care home was unsafe and was not well-led.

The damning report said they found one resident in tears who told inspectors they were ‘lonely’ and the home ‘did not always ensure that safe arrangements were in place’ for managing people's medicines. Inspectors also said they found dirty cloths, a ripped carpet and cracked tiles in a store cupboard and a laundry basket containing soiled bed linen which had no covers on it so was producing an unpleasant smell in the corridors.

It is understood the CQC has implemented enforcement action and the home’s management team will be forced to report on how they are improving the service. Four breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 were found.

Doncaster Council top social care boss Damian Allen said the authority are taking the findings ‘very seriously’.

One resident told inspectors they had not been supported to use the toilet, and often had to wait for ‘very long periods’.

This was echoed by feedback received from a relative, who told inspectors: "There does not seem to be enough staff.”

The report also said people felt ‘there were not enough staff, due to them always being busy and having little or no time to meaningfully interact’. But most relatives the inspectors spoke to told them staff were kind and caring in nature.

The home’s regional manager did not respond when asked for comment.