I don't know if anyone remembers my posting last August about three local, privately run EMI units I had visited and how shocked and upset I was at the conditions EMI residents were living in. Each of these establishments was run by large, private health corporations, each had had a reasonable to good report from CSCI. I found residents all sat in one large room with the ubiquitous tv to keep them company, signs of dirt and neglect in the furnishings and above all an overwhelming stench of urine.
I sent the CSCI a detailed report and criticised them as none of their reports published on the website were for full inspections; many areas which I was concerned about hadn't even been inspected. They replied that they did not complete their reports only on inspections but took other things into consideration when making their reports such as questionnairs sent to residents, relatives and professionals such as doctors, social workers etc., I then asked how many questionnairs were returned and was told that they did not have figures on this. Based on the level of incapacity which my husband has, I would suggest that the CSCI do not get any questionnairs returned from residents because they are physically and mentally incapable of understanding the questionnair let alone completing them!
After writing also to my MP and the Secretary of State for Care, I got a letter from the Chief Inspector at the CSCI assuring me that the three homes I had complained about would be inpected again before December last. I looked on their website today only to find that no new inspections had been posted. I have now sent him another letter asking that he send me a copy of the December inspections he had promised.
The CSCI have the power to close down homes. Sadly the logistics of moving sick, infirm and elderly residents, let alone the task of finding them new temporary accommodation must affect CSCI judgement in such matters. Failing homes are judged to be '2' - below standard but allowed to continue caring and admitting new residents.
I know that the CSCI do have powers and can reinspect regularly if they chose to do so. I wonder how often they do their follow up visits?
I think that such large corporate businesses would pay much more attention and get things right in the first place if the CSCI had the power to 'fine' homes with a financial punishment. Also I feel that any home which was given a rating of '2' should not be allowed to continue to advertise and take in new residents until they had proved that they had now rectified their failings.
Sadly, this doesn't happen, and, to cap it all, social workers continue to direct new residents to such homes.
xxTinaT
I sent the CSCI a detailed report and criticised them as none of their reports published on the website were for full inspections; many areas which I was concerned about hadn't even been inspected. They replied that they did not complete their reports only on inspections but took other things into consideration when making their reports such as questionnairs sent to residents, relatives and professionals such as doctors, social workers etc., I then asked how many questionnairs were returned and was told that they did not have figures on this. Based on the level of incapacity which my husband has, I would suggest that the CSCI do not get any questionnairs returned from residents because they are physically and mentally incapable of understanding the questionnair let alone completing them!
After writing also to my MP and the Secretary of State for Care, I got a letter from the Chief Inspector at the CSCI assuring me that the three homes I had complained about would be inpected again before December last. I looked on their website today only to find that no new inspections had been posted. I have now sent him another letter asking that he send me a copy of the December inspections he had promised.
The CSCI have the power to close down homes. Sadly the logistics of moving sick, infirm and elderly residents, let alone the task of finding them new temporary accommodation must affect CSCI judgement in such matters. Failing homes are judged to be '2' - below standard but allowed to continue caring and admitting new residents.
I know that the CSCI do have powers and can reinspect regularly if they chose to do so. I wonder how often they do their follow up visits?
I think that such large corporate businesses would pay much more attention and get things right in the first place if the CSCI had the power to 'fine' homes with a financial punishment. Also I feel that any home which was given a rating of '2' should not be allowed to continue to advertise and take in new residents until they had proved that they had now rectified their failings.
Sadly, this doesn't happen, and, to cap it all, social workers continue to direct new residents to such homes.
xxTinaT