A CARE has been told it is failing to keep staff and residents safe from Covid-19.

Maplin House in Shoeburyness was rated ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection in September.

At time of inspection, the Church Road home was providing care to eight people who have a learning disability, physical disability or dementia.

The CQC report, published on October 12, concluded management did not understand Covid-19 national testing guidance as set out by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The guidance states staff should do a once weekly Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test and twice weekly rapid lateral flow tests "to keep service users and staff safe".

Inspectors found there were significant gaps between staff members rapid lateral flow tests, and these were not being undertaken twice weekly.

Following the inspection, home management says measures are now in place to ensure all staff are tested correctly.

The CQC report added: “The arrangements to prevent visitors from catching and spreading infections were not being followed... Staff employed at the service failed to ask the inspector for proof of a negative Covid-19 when they first arrived.”

Staff were however said to be using appropriate PPE while most staff, and all residents of the home, had been double vaccinated.

Maplin House had previously been rated ‘inadequate’ in March and was placed into ‘special measures’ – a framework to ensure failing care providers significantly improve.

The home will be reinspected within six months to check for significant improvements. If none are made, CQC will begin the process of preventing the provider from operating this service.

Criticisms were also raised over recruitment practices, which were deemed ‘unsafe’.

In one instance, the Disclosure and Barring Service status for one member of staff was not received before employment.

Home manager William Farrow said: “Since the inspection we have met all of the requirements that the report has highlighted. We have a system in place which defines day-by-day who has had an LFT or PCR test.

“We’ve rectified the recommendation that CQC have made for DBS checks and are compliant with that as well.

“We are confident the home will be out of special measures when CQC next inspect. They will come within the next six months and they will find that the points of improvement they raised have been met.”