The WORST care homes in England revealed in new map showing ‘inadequate’ providers

Nearly 250 care homes across England are currently offering an ‘inadequate’ service, with some residents living in ‘unclean and unsafe’ conditions. 

It comes as criticism of the government’s handling of the social care system over the pandemic continues to grow due to the leaked WhatsApp messages of then Health Secretary Matt Hancock. 

In one exchange, Mr Hancock was shown to have ignored the guidance of No 10’s top medical advisor Sir Chris Whitty who insisted there should be testing for ‘all going into care homes’ – something Mr Hancock said ‘muddied the waters’. 

MailOnline analysed the data from inspection reports across the country and found that the South East region was the worst performing area with 44 facilities not up to standard. 

Of these, 14 were in Kent – making it the county with the highest number of inadequate ratings in the country. 

Kent has the highest number of ‘inadequate’ care homes in the country

When a care home is rated as inadequate by the CQC, the watchdog takes enforcement action against the centre. 

This can range from deregistering poorly performing facilities to taking criminal action against providers under whose watch significant harm has occurred or is likely to occur. 

The research showed that London had 17 care homes currently rated poorly whereas the best performing area of the country was the North East which had just three care homes rated as inadequate. 

Data showed that 239 care homes were rated as ‘inadequate’, and 2,530 ‘required improvement.’

Take a look at our map below to see the care homes in England rated inadequate or in need of improvement. 

Some are currently under review and a new report will be published when it is complete. 

(All data was downloaded from the CQC and is correct as of February 28 2023)

Two service providers – Achieve Together and Modus Care- are both listed as currently running five inadequate facilities each, making them the poorest performing providers in the country. 

An excerpt from a report given to a Achieve Together Hampshire care home for the under 65’s specialising in autistic and mental health needs found that it did not offer residents ‘a service that provided them with safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality care’ and that it ‘was not clean or homely.’ 

Achieve Together told the Mail that since the inspection reports had been published one care home facility had been closed – bringing their total down to four. 

A spokesperson for the provider said: ‘Our aim is to continue to improve and provide the best specialist support. Inadequate ratings fall far below the standards that we set ourselves and those that the people we support rightly expect and deserve.

‘We are rapidly improving these four homes, which represent 1.5% of our registered homes and services.’

Meanwhile, Modus Care operated five care homes in Cornwall which have not yet been inspected by the CQC and were therefore still ‘inadequate’. 

The operator took over control of the five services late last year from previous providers Spectrum who were deregistered by the CQC due to their failure to provide adequate care. 

All five centres were rated inadequate on their last inspection last year and the operator has said improvements are being made. 

Rosebank Lodge care home in Merton is operated by Achieve Together and is rated as ‘inadequate’

Chilterns Manor Care Home in Buckinghamshire operated by Chilterns Healthcare Ltd has also been rated ‘inadequate’ 

Martyn Heginbotham, chief operating officer of Modus Care, said: ‘Very recently, we were asked to take over the operation of these five services as a result of the previous provider’s failure, which resulted in them being rated inadequate and action taken by the regulator (CQC). 

‘Our expertise and experience in the sector will enable us to turn them around so that they provide the very best quality care and support for the people who live there.

‘We have worked collaboratively with both the Care Quality Commission and the local authority and have already introduced new policies and procedures and have plans for significant investment in the fabric of the buildings. All five services will benefit from ongoing support from our senior team.

‘We are confident that the care now being provided is sustainably improving and that individuals are having better lives and our colleagues feel supported.’

Responding to the data, the Care Quality Commission said that although most care homes are ‘outstanding’ they were not afraid to take action.  

A CQC spokesperson said: ‘The majority of care homes in England are good or outstanding and this reflects the incredible efforts of care workers and providers who have gone above and beyond to provide high quality care. 

‘However, in some locations this is not the case. When our inspections find that people are not receiving care which meets their needs and expectations, we take regulatory action to ensure this improves.

‘If people have concerns about the care they or their loved ones receive, we encourage them to share their experiences with us so we can respond.’