The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has placed Arncliffe Court Care Home in Halewood back into special measures after an inspection revealed residents were left in visibly dirty bedrooms with smelly bedding and crusted toothbrushes. The home, operated by Advinia, was rated inadequate for the second consecutive time.
CQC Inspection Findings
The CQC conducted the follow-up inspection after identifying concerns in August 2025. At the time, 89 people were living at the home. Inspectors found four breaches of regulation concerning safe care and treatment, medicines management, consent, and overall management. Conditions were imposed on the service's registration to ensure proper processes are followed.
During the first visit, inspectors noted that some areas including bedrooms, communal toilets, and the lounge were visibly dirty. Mattresses and bedding were unclean and emitted a noticeable bad smell. Food items in the fridge were not clearly labelled with opening dates, and some, including milk and yoghurts, had been left out of refrigeration.
Residents Left Bored and Neglected
Inspectors observed that a number of residents remained in their bedrooms for the entire day with no meaningful engagement. One resident said: “Nothing much happens here. We just sit here and watch the TV. There’re other people I talk to here, but nothing happens.” Support for personal hygiene was inconsistent, with officials seeing toothbrushes that appeared dry, crusted, or unused, and some still brand new. Some residents lacked access to basic toiletries.
The provider did not always treat people with kindness, empathy, or respect for privacy and dignity. One person had no adequate access to clothing or basic toiletries, despite leaders being aware of this since August 2025. That person had clearly expressed a wish for additional clothing, personal items, and a newspaper, but these wishes were not addressed, leaving them feeling neglected.
Regulatory Action and Response
Andrew Peck, CQC deputy director of operations for north-west adult social care, said: “When we inspected Arncliffe Court, it was concerning to see little improvement had been made since we last visited, despite us being clear about what needed to be done. Leaders still weren’t managing the service well and we continued to see people being placed at risk of poor care in a place they call home.” He added that a high number of falls and incidents involving distress indicated lessons had not been learned. “We saw people just sitting in their rooms for long periods of time with little engagement and activities available to support their wellbeing. People told us there wasn’t much to do at the home other than watch TV which placed them at risk of boredom and isolation.”
The CQC has begun regulatory action to protect residents further. The ECHO approached Advinia for comment.
