Praise for staff at Bilston care home placed into special measures in damning report
The owner of a care home which has been placed in special measures by government inspectors says he and staff are doing 'all they can' to address the situation.
Families of residents in Mill House have also spoken of their shock at the findings of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), who carried out an unannounced inspection in August after receiving information from a caller.
After the inspection, the overall rating for the service dropped from 'requires improvement' to 'inadequate'. Ratings for the safeness and well being also dropped from requires improvement to inadequate. Caring and responses were not inspected and remain as good.
The service is now in special measures, which means it will be kept under close review by CQC to keep people safe and re-inspected to check sufficient improvements have been made.
But Ragavendrawo Ramdoo, who has owned the home in Mount Pleasant for over 20 years said he is addressing the findings after bringing in a consultant since the inspection and appointing a temporary manager.
He said the death of the permanent manager at the home in March had a 'devastating effect' on the business but he was determined to put it back on a sound footing once more and that residents and families had never complained.
Mr Ramdoo said: "The home was going through a period of instability although the satisfaction level of residents and their families has always remained high.
"Since the inspection in August I have brought a consultant in at my own expense to see what needs to be done and we are in the process of appointing another permanent manager.
"Wolverhampton Council officials came in on Friday and were impressed with what they saw – we are in their hands for now and they have told us they were more than satisfied with everything they saw from cleanliness to the comfort of the residents.
"I would be devastated if we had to shut down because of one inspection, the people here are like family to me and my wife after all this time and I can't envisage anything other than the happiness of the residents."
A meeting held by relatives and friends on Wednesday left them determined to keep the home going.
Spokesperson Janine Timmis said: "There was nothing but great praise for the staff at Mill House who go above and beyond their job description to ensure that our loved ones are happy, content, and given the highest standard of care.
"We understand the changes required by CQC are now in place but that they will not be back to inspect for three months which we hope won't leave the home in turmoil and that the residents won't have to go through the upheaval of moving to another home which would be traumatic and stressful – we are determined that won't happen."
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