Four members of care home staff have been sacked after a video emerged showing a resident experiencing physical and emotional abuse.

The latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection at Elvy Court Care Home in London Road, Sittingbourne, was prompted by the footage, which had been sent to Kent County Council's safeguarding team.

The inspection took place in July and the report was published earlier this month.

In its report, the health watchdog said: “People had not been consistently safeguarded from situations in which they may be at risk of experiencing abuse.

“In particular, there had been a number of occasions when a person had experienced physical abuse due to rough treatment and emotional abuse.

“The perpetrators were four members of care staff who mainly worked at night.”

It added: “As soon as the matter came to the attention of the registered persons, the perpetrators were suspended from duty.

“By the time of our inspection visit, they had been dismissed from their employment.”

"There had been a number of occasions when a person had experienced physical abuse due to rough treatment and emotional abuse" - Care Quality Commission inspectors

It is not known when the footage was taken, but the CQC rated the practice as 'good' following an inspection on May 30 this year and at this inspection, on July 10, the standards had dropped to 'requires improvement'.

The report said the video evidence showed a person had not been helped in the right way to drink from a cup.

This was because they had not been helped by two different care staff, who were no longer employed, to sit in an upright position so there was less risk of them choking.

Also, the same person had not been supported to change position in bed in a way that ensured their safety and comfort.

This was because two former care staff had "partially dragged" the person under their arms when assisting them to change position.

They had not used a special sheet designed to reduce the risk of a person's skin being chaffed and becoming sore.

However, the health watchdog said the home had "quickly" taken steps to ensure all remaining nurses and care staff were working in the right way to keep people safe.

Avery Healthcare, based in Northampton, runs Elvy Court.

“On receipt of the information, the company took immediate action and dismissed the staff involved for their failings" - Avery Healthcare spokesman

Its spokesman said: “Avery Healthcare was deeply saddened over this incident as it stands in stark contrast to the standards expected and the reputation of the group and the efforts made to recruit the best staff and to provide continuous training to ensure the best in care.

“The rest of the staff in Elvy Court are equally dismayed as this in no way reflects the high quality of care they deliver every day. They do not wish the poor behaviour by a tiny minority to be a benchmark by which they are all judged.

“On receipt of the information, the company took immediate action and dismissed the staff involved for their failings. Our focus and attentions then quickly moved to working with the family, as they have chosen to keep their relative with us, and the authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of the resident involved, and to examine all policies and procedures to ensure all residents are protected and cared for, as they, their families and we would expect.

“The CQC had little other option than to issue a revised result in some of their assessment categories, and every effort will be made to re-establish Elvy Court quickly back to the previous rating of good in all areas.”

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