Resident overpaid rent 'for a number of years' at Waterford care facility
Hiqa HQ Dublin, Ireland.
Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA) have published a report on their findings during a recent inspection of a care home facility in Waterford.
Bluebell Lodge is located on the outskirts of Waterford City and is a residential care home for people with intellectual disabilities.
The centre has a full-time staff that is made up of social care workers and healthcare assistants.
Inspectors made an announced visit to the four-bedroom bungalow in December last year. There were four residents living in the complex at the time. The visit was scheduled to inform a registration renewal.
The final report was mostly positive as the lodge passed every criteria bar two. However, an issue was found relating to resident’s finances. One resident was found to be have been overpaying rent ‘for a number of years’.
Before the visit, the residents were sent surveys provided by HIQA to gain a clearer understanding of their own living experience. The residents were supported by their family members and staff in completing the documents. They gave positive feedback in their surveys, indicating satisfaction with the premises, staff, food, activities and fellow residents.
The centre was found to be fully compliant in regards to staffing and staff development/ training. Staffers were found to have up-to-date training in handling medication, safeguarding, fire safety and manual handling. The report read: “The staff team were also provided with additional centre specific training including, epilepsy training, Feeding Eating Drinking and Swallowing (FEDS) training and safe administration of medication.”
In the categories of insurance, governance and management, the centre was deemed compliant. Their statement of purpose was deemed as ‘substantially compliant’ as it left out references to fire precautions and emergency procedures as defined in the regulations.
The report stated: “The inspector requested an updated SOP with all information included to be submitted to the Chief Inspector of Social Services.” In terms of risk management procedures, residents’ access to information, communication and resident’s rights, the centre was found to be compliant with HIQA standards.
However, the lodge was found to be non-compliant concerning the personal possessions of residents.
One resident was found to have been overpaying rent at the lodge for a number of years. The report stated that there was a ‘lack of effective oversight’ concerning this aspect of care and support.
The report went on: “When this overpayment was identified the provider had taken steps to reimburse the resident and evidence of this was seen on the day of inspection including a review of an up to date bank statement.
“However, a systematic review of how this lack of oversight had managed to be in place for a number of years had not occurred. Therefore it was unclear if any learnings or other improvements in this area of care and support had been identified or put in place.”
Irregularities were found in regards to resident’s debit and cash purchases. Policy dictates that two members of staff must sign off on each item. However, there was a record of only one staff member signing off purchases.
Additionally, one resident appeared to be paying a ‘considerable’ amount of their own money on private prescriptions and other basic medicines including cough syrup. The report read: “No review or exploration had taken place to alternative schemes that may cover private prescription costs for this resident. This required review.”
Bluebell Lodge indicated that they would include a requirement for residents to apply for supplemental rent within 14 days of admissions, and that the application be moitored every two weeks thereafter.
The report stated: “The council will be formally contacted by WIDA, and requested to write to tenants to inform them that their application for rent supplement has been successful.
“The housing association will be contacted by WIDA and asked to notify their tenant in writing when their rent supplement is received, and if it changes. The housing association will also be asked to contact all current residents to inform them of the current monies being received.
The provider also committed to training staff to properly review resident’s finances. It read: “The Person in Charge will ensure that there is a review of the service user’s finances on a weekly basis to ensure that all checks are being completed correctly.”
The full report can be read on
hiqa.ie.
