Care home boss was so appalled by conditions she quit after just two weeks, warning families to get their loved ones out
Jessica Taylor, 31, claims she worked over 130 hours in two weeks at the Freshfields Nursing Home, which had been blasted by the Quality Care Commission in January
A CARE home boss was so appalled by conditions there, she quit just two weeks after starting, telling families to get their loved ones out.
Jessica Taylor says she found elderly residents with undocumented injuries and medication overflowing from cupboards at the Freshfields Nursing Home in Wythenshawe, Gtr Manchester.
She claims she was the ninth member of management to walk out in just 18 months because of the way it was being run.
The home has now been stopped from taking in new placements until improvements are made.
During her 14 days in post as deputy manager, the 31-year-old says she worked more than 130 hours, despite claims to have had no induction, and not even a contract.
Jessica, who has worked in care for five years, said the 41-bed home on Southmoor Road – which cares for those aged 60-90 – was constantly understaffed and that she was unable to fill rotas with agency and bank staff as owners Mosaic Community Care hadn’t paid previous invoices.
A report published by the Care Quality Commission in January – before Jessica started – rated Freshfields as “requiring improvement”.
It found that residents were put at risk of harm and neglect, and that safety was often compromised in a number of areas.
Inspectors added: “We found that people’s dignity was not always considered. People were not always responded to in a timely manner and we observed people to have unmet requests for support, such as calling out, asking for drinks and requesting support. Staff did not seem to acknowledge non-verbal signs of communication for people living with dementia and we observed care to be task focused.”
Mum-of-one Jessica, from Stockport , said she wouldn’t put her own parents in the home.
She told : “When I got there, I worked 132 hours in two weeks from 7am till 11pm trying to get things right and ensure correct procedures were implemented.
“Bedsores and other injuries weren’t being recorded, families weren’t being informed, and medication was being incorrectly stored.
“I have a duty of care to those residents and have told relatives to find their loved ones somewhere else to live.
“There was no support from above. We were constantly understaffed and had a real shortage of nurses, but the agency wouldn’t send us staff because the company owed money.”
Jessica claims that staff have also experienced problems with pay, and that two walked out on April after they failed to receive wages.
Coun Paul Andrews, executive member for Adult Health and Wellbeing for Manchester City Council, said: “We are aware of concerns relating to this home and are working with colleagues from South Manchester Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to ensure improvements are delivered.
“As an additional precaution, we are suspending any new placements in Freshfields until these improvements have happened.
“We would like to reassure residents that the home is subject to close and frequent monitoring to ensure that patients are safe and concerns are addressed.”
Mosaic Community Care disputed Jessica’s claims that she never had an induction and agency staff were paid.