Care home for autistic people in special measures

A care home that supports autistic people and those with learning disabilities has been placed into special measures.

Kimwick Care Home in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, was rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Inspectors reported concerns around medicine storage, fire safety and staff training.

Rhodsac Community Living Ltd, which runs the home, was approached for comment.

The CQC inspected the five-bedroom property in November and December.

It said the home breached three legal regulations in regards to safe care and treatment.

Many of the concerns were raised by the families of residents.

"Their concerns included the delays in appropriate action in response to a broken side gate, rubbish outside the front of the home, smoke alarms seen open with no batteries in place, light switches hanging off the wall and loose stair carpet," the report said.

"Appropriate fire safety measures were not in place, for example we saw a smoke detector had been covered."

Other concerns included "widespread and significant shortfalls in leadership", no oversight or log of accidents and a shortage of qualified staff.

The CQC said there had been no improvement at the service since its last inspection - and many areas had deteriorated.

However, inspectors praised staff for treating people well and meeting their needs.

The CQC will now closely monitor the service to ensure residents are safe.

If improvements are not made, the provider faces having its registration cancelled.

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