Salvation Army care home closed following damning CQC inspection

A Bath care home run by the Salvation Army has been shut down after a damning CQC inspection report.

An inspection in July and August of Smallcombe House, which was prompted by a report of “alleged serious abuse” of a service user, found “worn and dirty” furniture, carpets omitting “strong odours” and a lack of trained and competent staff.

A Salvation Army spokesperson said: “There were a number of key factors, such as quality of care provision and recruitment and retention of qualified staff in the Bath area, which has resulted in this decision being reached.

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“These factors impacted on The Salvation Army’s ability to sustain a high quality of care at Smallcombe House Care Home for which we apologise. It is well known, that this is a challenge facing adult social care as a whole across the UK.

The spokesperson said residents and families had been properly involved in the closure and had had as much control over their move as possible.

“We will continue to work with both the local authority and its partners and the Care Quality Commission to ensure that residents can be moved safely with as much choice and dignity as possible,” the spokesperson added.

The service had been rated Requires Improvement following a previous inspection in March.

The CQC said the provider had submitted an action plan for improvements but found none of the actions had been implemented, adding the service had deteriorated.

Inspectors found overflowing clinical waste bins and observed a member of staff carrying a dirty incontinence pad to the sluice during visits in July and August.