East Cowes Care Home Told It Must Improve Following CQC Inspection

A residential care home in East Cowes has been told it must improve after inspectors identified concerns over governance and the way some care was delivered.

Kynance Residential Home, on York Avenue, has been given an overall 'Requires Improvement' rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection carried out between 27 April and 14 May.

The home, operated by Mentfade Limited, provides accommodation and personal care for older people, including some living with dementia.

Inspectors found the provider had breached legal regulations relating to governance, with systems deemed "not sufficiently robust" to identify, assess and manage risks to residents' health, safety and wellbeing in a timely manner.

The CQC also found care was not always delivered in a person-centred way, with some residents – particularly those confined to bed – receiving support based on routine practices rather than their individual preferences.

The report said there were occasions where care had not been delivered consistently, affecting some residents' dignity and overall experience.

Despite these concerns, inspectors rated the home 'Good' in the areas of effective, caring and responsive, while the safe and well-led categories were both rated 'Requires Improvement'.

The report also highlighted positive feedback from residents and their families, with inspectors noting that staff worked well alongside external healthcare professionals and were able to meet people's health and care needs.

The CQC has requested an action plan from the provider outlining how it will address the issues identified during the inspection.

Responding to the report, Kynance Residential Home said it accepted some of the findings and was already taking steps to improve, but argued the inspection did not fully reflect the atmosphere or quality of life within the home.

A spokesperson said:

"We were naturally disappointed to receive an overall 'Requires Improvement' rating.

"A CQC inspection provides a snapshot in time.

"While we respect the inspection process and are committed to continuous improvement, we do not believe this report reflects the full experience of living in our home or the commitment demonstrated by our team over many years.

"What the report does not fully capture is what our residents and their families experience every day.

"We are incredibly proud of the relationships we have built, the kindness shown by our staff, and the sense of community within our home."

The spokesperson added that feedback from residents and their families remains "overwhelmingly positive" and said the home, like many care providers, faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also claimed the home had received very little direct engagement or support from the CQC over the past eight years.