Greenock care home faces closure over serious risk to residents

A care home in Inverclyde could be forced to shut over “serious and significant” safety concerns for its residents.

Larkfield View Care Home in Greenock was being monitored by the Care Inspectorate following a unannounced inspection in April which found the facility, which was caring for 89 elderly people, was putting them at risk.

However, following insufficient progress, the watchdog has applied to the sheriff court to have the 90-bed home’s care license revoked.

The watchdog said this could allow new care arrangements to be put in place for the residents living in the home.

In April, inspectors visited the facility on Burns Road, where they found significant failures, rating it weak in areas, including leadership, staffing, care and well-being.

The report stated: “We identified widespread and serious concerns relating to cleanliness, infection prevention and control, and food safety.

“Bathrooms, toilets, kitchens and communal areas were observed to be dirty and poorly maintained. Food was stored unsafely, equipment was heavily worn or rusted, and environmental conditions compromised staff’s ability to clean effectively.

“These conditions posed a direct risk to people’s health and wellbeing.”

In addition, there were concerns over the monitoring of residents’ dietary requirements, including nutrition and hydration.

Inspectors found that staff were inconsistent in handling texture-modified diets, which could pose a risk of choking or aspiration for residents.

The administration of medication was also an issue, with inspectors noting that staff were using “unclear and inappropriate methods”, meaning health concerns were not effectively managed.

Systemic weaknesses were also found in the management of the care home, which outweighed the “pockets of good practice”.

The report stated: “There was limited evidence that learning from incidents, complaints, or previous inspections had led to lasting change.”

This prompted inspectors to issue an urgent letter of concern to provider Holmes Care Group, along with areas for improvement.

In the following months, the Care Inspectorate reviewed the situation at Larkfield View and found there had been some improvements.

This included ordering in prepared meals and training staff to support people who required modified diets.

However, the watchdog still found that the service was not being “effectively led and managed” or that on-duty staff were “sufficiently trained and skilled”.

This led to an extension for the care home to address these ongoing issues.

However, the Care Inspectorate has confirmed it is seeking to cancel the home’s license due to insufficient progress.

“Inspections have identified serious and significant concerns about the quality of care experienced by residents at Larkfield View Care Centre in Greenock,” the watchdog said.

“We understand this is a difficult and distressing time for residents, their loved ones and staff at the home.

“However, our first priority is always the health, safety and wellbeing of residents.

“Following further monitoring the Care Inspectorate has found evidence of serious risk to people experiencing care.

“We are working closely with partners, including Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership, to ensure the residents experience appropriate care that meets their needs during this difficult time.”

Sharifa Lakhani, chief executive of Holmes Care Group Scotland, said: “We are deeply disappointed that the Care Inspectorate has applied to cancel Larkfield View’s registration.

“We have been working with the Care Inspectorate for some time to make the necessary changes at the home, and we will vigorously challenge this application.

“The health, safety and well-being of our residents is our utmost priority. Our team is focused on caring for residents and supporting their families and our staff.”