Gosport nursing home deprived residents of liberty 'unlawfully' rules CQC

An inspection of Alverstoke House Nursing Home in Somervell Close, Gosport, by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found that the care home ‘requires improvement’.

Alverstoke House looks after people who require nursing or personal care, or who have physical disabilities, diseases, disorders or injuries.

There is accommodation for 29 people, but there were 22 residents when the CQC carried out its inspection on January 16.

Among issues raised by the CQC was the concern that some residents had been deprived of their liberty ‘unlawfully’.

To restrict a person’s liberty for care and treatment purposes, it has to be in their best interest and done with legal permission from the local authority – in this case, Hampshire County Council.

But the CQC found that the care home did not have the authorisation to do this.

The report said: ‘Some people were under continuous control and supervision due to their cognitive impairments, with restrictions on their liberty.

‘However, we found that for some of these people, no applications had been made to the local authority. This meant these people were being deprived of their liberty unlawfully.’

The necessary applications have now been made by the care home.

Issues were also raised by the CQC over care plans, which inspectors claimed were lacking in guidance for staff members.

The care plan for one resident with insulin-dependent diabetes did not say what their normal blood sugar levels should have been.

The report said the registered manager had attempted to make changes to benefit the care home.

Residents reported being happy with the care, meals and activities provided for them.

A spokeswoman for Alverstoke House Nursing Home said: ‘With regards to care plans we have been working closely with the Community Care Home Team to improve care plans.

‘We have also been working closely with the CCG quality team to improve the overall structure and processes in the home.

‘We are proud of the care we provide for residents and have worked hard to improve recording.’