Kent care home again rated 'inadequate'

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has again rated Ruth Lodge Care Home in Chatham, Kent, as ‘inadequate’ and has kept it in special measures following a follow-up inspection.

Ruth Lodge is a residential care home run by TKSD Care Homes & Training, providing accommodation and personal care for two people who have complex learning disabilities and autism.

The CQC carried out the recent inspection to check progress on actions required following its previous visit in December 2024.

And inspectors found that, while there were some environmental improvements, serious and widespread failings remained in how the service was led, how risks were managed, and how people’s rights were protected.

As a result the CQC has re-rated Ruth Lodge overall, as well as in the areas of being safe and well led, as ‘inadequate’.

The rating for being responsive has also been downgraded from ‘good’ to ‘inadequate’.

Caring and effective were not re-rated during this inspection and remain rated as ‘good’.

The inspection found that staff provided care without proper support, supervision, or understanding of learning disability and autism; that it ‘failed to protect the basic rights and dignity’ of service users; and that people has ‘little choice or control over their daily lives’.

The service continues to be in special measures, which involves close monitoring to ensure people are safe while they make improvements.

Special measures also provides a structured timeframe so services understand when they need to make improvements by, and what action the CQC will take if this doesn’t happen.

CQC has also begun the process of taking regulatory action to address the concerns which Ruth Lodge has the right to appeal.

Serena Coleman, CQC’s deputy director for Kent, said: “When we inspected Ruth Lodge, we found a service that was still failing to protect the basic rights and dignity of the people living there.

“Leaders allowed restrictive and institutionalised practices to persist, leaving people with little choice or control over their daily lives.

“Staff continued to provide care without proper support, supervision, or understanding of learning disability and autism, despite previous enforcement action and guidance on how to improve.

“We saw people living in an environment that didn’t promote independence or self expression.

“Some people were made to go to bed early or were deprived of liberty without lawful authorisation. Others missed vital opportunities to develop communication skills or engage in meaningful activities.

“Leaders failed to identify or address these issues and didn’t learn from incidents or feedback.

“People have the right to live free from unnecessary restrictions, with care that reflects their choices and individuality.

“Ruth Lodge’s leadership failed to create a culture that respected these rights and we’ve told them exactly what needs to change and by when.

“If improvements aren’t made quickly and sustainably, we won’t hesitate to take further enforcement action to ensure people are protected.

“We’ll continue to monitor Ruth Lodge closely to make sure people receive the safe, compassionate and person-centred care they deserve.”

Inspectors found:

• Leaders failed to identify and address a closed culture that restricted people’s rights and choices
• Staff didn’t assess or manage risks effectively, leaving people exposed to avoidable harm.
• Staff worked excessive shifts without proper rest, creating safety risks
• People were deprived of liberty without consent or lawful authorisation
• Care plans lacked personal detail and families weren’t involved in decisions
• Leaders didn’t ensure staff understood autism, learning disability, or positive behaviour support
• The home failed to display its CQC rating as required by law

However, inspectors also found:

• Staff had made some improvements in cleanliness and environmental safety
• Staff spoke warmly about people and wanted to provide good care, but lacked the support and leadership to do so