Walsall care home to take elderly again now ban over
Referrals have resumed on a restricted basis at a Walsall care home for elderly people after an investigation over the quality of care being provided.
Social care chiefs at Walsall Council suspended placements at Fernwood Court, in Bentley, when a complaint was made to them last year.
No details have been revealed about the nature of the complaint.
The council said it has lifted the suspension, but with conditions.
It said Fernwood, in Wolverhampton Road West, is restricted to taking one new placement per month while further improvements are made. The suspension was lifted last month, shortly before Christmas.
There is room for 59 residents at the complex, which has around 50 staying there.
Placements paid for by the council's social care department were stopped following an anonymous complaint. Town hall officials stopped referrals while the matter was looked into.
Today the council stated: "The suspension was lifted to a restriction of one new placement per month while we await a further period of sustained improvement."
Four Seasons, the healthcare firm which runs Fernwood, said 'a thorough investigation' had been carried out and had been completed. None of the allegations were substantiated, they said.
A Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection last September found staff at the home were caring, but there were concerns about the number of people on duty.
At the time of the report, Fernwood said the home was providing safe and appropriate care that was responsive and meeting the needs of people living there. They said it supported their rights, people were treated with respect and involved in decisions about their care.
"On the day of the inspection the CQC had a moderate concern about staffing levels, as a result of some absence due to illness. However, the manager on duty had authority to call in agency staff had it been considered necessary," a statement from Four Seasons said.
"We have reinforced arrangements to ensure there are always sufficient staff numbers available, with cover in the event of absences. The CQC found staff are properly trained and supervised," the firm said at the time.
Workers organised a programme of live entertainment including a dance performance, music and a comedy nativity as part of Christmas events at the complex.
Fernwood, which offers dementia care, was among 140 sites taken over by Four Seasons Health Care four years ago after its previous operator Southern Cross collapsed with debts of more than £5 billion.
