To report this appalling breach of health and safety?

[MatildaTheCat]

But who to? This is the nursing home where my mil resides. We've had endless issues and cannot keep complaining for fear that they insists she leaves which she does not want.

I started a thread at Christmas about the theft of her jewellery which was never properly addressed.

I want to send these photos to the relevant authorities ( I've mentioned fire risk so many times but this exit is permanently blocked, the laundry containers actually live there). Nothing ever changes. However, I want to do so anonymously or at least not have our name involved.

Who do I send these shocking pictures to to elicit the fastest and most severe response?

Nb. This place charges £1500 or close, a week.

I used to work for a respite charity and as PP have said, CQC would be the first port of call.

Matilda that horrible.

I'm doing my training for home caring which I know is slightly different but it was spelled out that all clients or patients in your MIL's case have a right to complain without fear of repercussions.

I work in a hospital and we have annual fire safety lectures from fire officers. We have been told if we see a blocked exit we can dial 999 to report it. I thought that was a bit extreme but more than one officer has said it.

www.cqc.org.uk

I've just looked through my notes and that's the website that came up for complaints in England.

I remember your thread about her jewellery, so sorry things don't seem to be improving.

Matilda is this place in Scotland? I recognise it from a family member residing there, haven't seen your previous thread though

Regarding the theft of jewellery, why wasn't that addressed properly? If someone stole an item belonging to a resident, surely the management should instigate an investigation and possibly involve the police?

CQC and local fire officer who will go round and would serve an enforcement notice for that. Ongoing issue would be a potential prosecution of the home

Oh sorry the Scottish one is a different company. I can check my notes when I get home if that's any use to you?

So dangerous. Definitely report. A friend of mine worked in a care home where this was standard. She constantly complained to the manager who did nothing to rectify it so she reported it and left. It's shocking.

No, it's not in Scotland.

What happens when we make any complaints such as theft of jewellery, no medication given for two days ( resulting in a BP reading of 220/110 at a hospital appointment) is that they promise an investigation. Then they say that she has mental capacity to decide if she wants to trigger a formal complaint. She is extremely frail and vulnerable so doesn't want to annoy and upset the staff and says no. So no formal complaint is raised and nothing changes.

It makes me so angry but she isn't my mother and her eldest dd, my SIL has assumed the group leader status and also doesn't want to anger the manager. When she complained about the medication he said we were adversely affecting staff morale and she would be better off moving. She's lived there four years and it's her home. Lots of individual staff members are very kind but getting anything done by the matron or manager is impossible. They are just relentlessly defensive.

I will send the pics to the fire officer, too.

Thanks for all the advice.

CQC are now responsible for Health and Safety in care homes.

Contact the local authority and say you want to raise a Safeguarding Adults concern - they have a duty of care to protect her whether they fund her or not.
Of course that will get back to the manager (the complaint can be anonymous but managers can often guess) so you need to consider that.

The missed medication episode was potential neglect and would merit a Section 42 enquiry (an investigation and action to protect) whether your MIL consented or not (since there are others at the home and they might be at risk from such poor practices - public interest concern). Of course it would be almost impossible to raise such a specific episode anonymously.

I'd send the photos to the CQC and also raise the other issues and your concerns. It is her home and she has a right to be safe in it and secure.

Matilda I'm attending training tomorrow. I can try and find out if there is anywhere higher to complain if that would be any help?

Being scared to complain is really not acceptable.

The higher agency is the health and safety executive. Breaches come under criminal law.

HSE dont regulate care homes these days for H&S, CQC do it now.
They took it over so all care home issues are CQC. Fire safety breaches are the Fire Service.

You could also let the local Healthwatch organisation know about it. They have powers to enter and view care homes.

Smelly we've been told today it's still HSE. I bloody said CQC and got corrected.

The bloke teaching was just a general health and safety person not an expert on care. You may have more of an idea, I'm on day two of training so in no way an expert.

I did find out that "striking against objects" so pretty much the risk with objects been left in unsafe place is one of the top five main accident causes. (Amongst all workplaces not just care homes)

Your well within your rights to report this to the fire service as they are blocking the fire exit. They can write something up and make them implement changes, they can also check all extinguishers, blankets.

I have sent an email to the H&S department at the local council

Definitely wise, but sometimes hell can freeze over before councils do anything and I think you'll get more out of your contact with the fire officer

I involved them myself about a H&S issue at my son's flat, and believe me the manager's feet didn't touch the floor

Whether it's the HSE or LA who enforces health and safety depends on the main activity. If the main activity is nursing/medical care then it's the HSE, also if the LA own/run the home it's the HSE too.
If the main activity is residential care then it's the LA.

Within the above there is another layer of complexity with the CQC - they deal with H&S matters relating to patients/service users at premises registered with them. If the home isn't registered with them they have no power.
Then, if the matter relates to the H&S of workers, visitors or contractors it is the HSE/LA (depending on the main activity) even if the premises is CQC registered.
For a matter as obvious as a blocked emergency escape I would try the fire authority first.

Pseudo CQC took over the H&S issues in nursing homes from HSE around a year ago. ( just residential homes were = LA)
CQC look at all issues such as bed rails, legionella, lifting devices etc. The fire exits issue would directly effect users of the home as vulnerable people so CQC would be first port of call. HSE dont enforce general fire precautions such as fire exits - thats the fire service as they can serve enforcement on it