A local nursing home operated by the same group with two 'inadequate' care homes in Leek has been rated 'inadequate' in an inspection only four months after it opened.

Mitchell House nursing home, which is located on Boathorse Road in Kidsgrove, was given the 'inadequate' rating in a Care Quality Commission inspection, with the results being published on its website last week.

It is run by the John Munroe group, who also operate two care homes in Leek that were rated 'inadequate' after patients died due to Covid-19 outbreaks.

Leek Nub News reported previously how the Care Quality Commission gave 'inadequate' ratings to the John Munroe Hospital and the Edith Shaw Hospital - both of which are mental health hospitals - after whistleblowers came forward with concerns.

Mitchell House was rated 'inadequate' overall, and in particular was given 'inadequate' ratings in the 'Safe' and 'Well-led' categories.

It was also given 'requires improvement' ratings in the 'Effective', 'Caring' and 'Responsive' categories.

The inspection explained that the home is currently providing personal and nursing care to seven people living with complex physical and mental health needs, but can support up to 45 people.

The inspection report stated: "People were not supported by sufficiently trained staff to meet all of their health needs. People were not always supported to receive their medicines as prescribed in a safe way. People's care needs and risks were not all explored within their care files and staff were not always aware of these or how to support people with them. People were not always supported in line with government COVID-19 guidance and best practice. Safeguarding concerns were not reported to the Local Authority as required for further investigation and to reduce future risk. People were not supported by regular staff who knew them well as the home relied upon agency staff."

It added: "People were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did not support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People's records were not stored safely to ensure confidentiality. People did not all feel able to raise concerns with the registered manager."

The inspection also noted: "There was a lack of effective and robust quality assurance tools and oversight in place at the service. All concerns we identified were not highlighted by quality assurance tools in place. The registered manager had failed to notify CQC as required following potential safeguarding and police incidents."

However, the report was not all negative, with the inspection also adding: "People were supported by safely recruited staff. People were supported to eat and drink in line with their needs and preferences. People were supported to maintain their privacy and dignity. People gave positive feedback about the regular staff and told us staff knew them well. People and their relatives overall gave positive feedback about the registered manager. People were supported to have visitors and to access the local community. People had access to healthcare professionals when they required these."

The home has now been placed in 'special measures' meaning another inspection will be carried out in six months' time to check for significant improvements.