Breaches in relation to risks to people, staffing and quality assurance processes have been found at a care home where abuse was revealed in October.

Reigate Grange in Surrey where staff were revealed last year mocking an 88-year-old resident living with dementia was rated Requires Improvement by the CQC following an unannounced inspected in the early hours of the morning in January.

The CQC commented: “Quality assurance processes did not always ensure effective management oversight of care plans, daily records and care practices. The management team did not always ensure the deployment of staff met people’s needs. Where people were living with advancing dementia, agency care staff did not always understand their needs and strategies to support them effectively; this had not been identified during quality assurance processes.”

While rated Good in the areas of Effective, Caring and Responsive, the home was rated Requires Improvement  in Safe and Well-led.

People and their relatives gave mixed reviews about staff with concerns expressed about the use of agency workers.

On the positive side, the CQC said: “People were kept safe by staff who understood their responsibilities to recognise and report safeguarding concerns. Staff explained what they would do and who they would report to if they thought people were at risk. People were protected from the spread of infectious diseases by good staff practices and infection prevention and control policies. Accidents and incidents were investigated and analysed to mitigate reoccurrences.”

The CQC said people and relatives were “involved and engaged in the running of the service” with a recently appointed registered manager highly regarded.

Comments included: “Leadership is fine, I have no concerns. Reigate Grange is a fantastic place. There is no question that my relative would not be alive today if they were not a resident there.”

A Signature Senior Lifestyle spokesperson said: “We are pleased the CQC rates our home as Good in three out of the five areas the regulator inspects, and recognises our residents are kept safe by colleagues who understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. 

“We take any feedback we receive from the regulator very seriously and will continue to work with them to address any further required improvements. Our overriding priority is to continue working closely with our residents and their loved ones in maintaining an environment where they feel safe and happy.  

“We are very grateful for the continued support of our residents, their families and colleagues, our aim is to ensure that this home joins the rest of our communities which are all currently rated either Good or Outstanding by the CQC.”