The operator of the Oaklands care home – rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission –  has blamed the previous management and staff for “the damage done to the home”.

Claiming that the CQC report is “not a true reflection” of the current state of the Church Road, Brightlingsea, home – where inspectors found some residents unable to bath or shower for weeks during renovation work – operator Primos Care Ltd said: “The report reflects nothing but the damage done by the previous management and staff of Oaklands.”

In a long statement to Brightlingsea Info, Primos claimed that problems with non-compliance and management only became apparent after taking it over in October 2023.  “This was immediately communicated to the regulators and the local authority,” said Primos.

However, the statement failed to address the CQS’s discovery of an unclean kitchen, the lack of bathing facilities, blocked fire exits or errors with medicines.

Primos claimed that staff working with vulnerable people “had not been effectively trained”, with no or outdated DBS checks.  A cleaner was said to be working in care without the knowledge or skills required to support a vulnerable resident, while most care plans were discovered to be “not fit for purpose”.

“We realised that upon taking over the ownership of the home there were a lot of safeguarding concerns raised, most of them centred around the building,” said the statement. In January 2024, Primos said it had written to the CQS about its plans to improve the home and commenced work to renovate rooms with a “comprehensive risk assessment” and the approval of residents and their next of kin.

At the same time, said the statement, the company held a meeting to inform staff of the need to ensure compliance, and resolve contract issues. It said that it would be “enrolling all staff for necessary and needed training”. At that point, said Primos, staff “misinterpreted” its intentions and, apparently believing that they were about to be sacked, the majority of them tendered their resignations.

Promos alleged that former staff had written to the CQS, pointing out non-compliance that “had been happening for years”, and that it was “pressure mounted by ex-staff” that resulted in an unannounced CQS inspection in February 2024. The company said that although renovation work had started, there had not been enough time to put “years” of damage right by the time of the inspection.

Primos said the CQS report was “disheartening” despite its “hard work”. It claimed that a recent meeting with residents and relatives had been “extremely positive, but added: “We would love to continue with Oaklands care home but as it stands we are contemplating if it’s worth it as we are not receiving the needed support and encouragement to continue the good work we have started.”

And it concluded: “We would like the public to know that as an experienced provider we will continue to ensure we give nothing but the best quality care to all vulnerable adults …. because we have a reputable name in health and social care to protect.”