Inspectors had to ask for dirty toilet brushes to be thrown away at Liverpool care home

Inspectors at a Liverpool care home had to ask for soiled toilet brushes to be disposed of while a crucial fire escape was found to be blocked.

Officials from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have deemed Finch Manor Care Home in Dovecot to be inadequate following a visit in November last year. The effectiveness and safety of the home was found to be well below standard while concerns were also raised about the responsiveness of staff to issues.

The Finch Lea Drive facility is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care. At the time of the inspection, 84 residents were in situ. Officials said they visited Finch Manor last year to follow up on specific concerns they had received about the service.

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about staffing and the management of the service. According to a report by the CQC, people’s safety was not always appropriately managed and they were at risk of “avoidable harm.”

Inspectors found in one area people did not have access to the nurse call system. This put residents at risk of not receiving care and support when needed.

In addition, safety monitoring and management of the environment was not effective as officials found an external fire exit was blocked by car tyres and a bush. Food was transported uncovered around the building while there were also shortfalls around control of infection.

The report said areas of the service were visibly unclean, while communal bathrooms and designated sluice rooms were being used to store items of equipment and continence products. It added: “In addition, during two visits, dirty toilet brushes were requested to be disposed of by inspectors.

“Soiled laundry was seen being stored inappropriately in bathrooms and corridors.” A room used for the safe storage of medicines was also unclean and had debris on the floor.

A spokesperson for Lotus Care said: “Lotus Care are hugely disappointed following the findings of the latest inspection from Care Quality Commission. Since the inspection we have a new management team, as well as our senior management team who is overseeing the service.

“We have invested in electronic care plans and recruited staff. We have been working closely with the CQC and the Council to provide assurances and improvement.

“We are committed to making these improvements. We have recently had CQC inspections in two of our services which have maintained five goods in all areas.

“Lotus Care wants to give assurance that we are fully committed in making these improvements and our processes are stronger than ever.”