Cressington Court Care Home in Liverpool has been placed into special measures after a damning inspection report revealed residents were subjected to loud nursery rhymes for hours on end, unclean conditions, and poor management.
Inspection Findings
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected the home between January and March 2026, rating it as inadequate for safety and leadership, down from requires improvement. At the time, 52 people were living there, some with dementia.
Inspectors found that in the ground floor lounge, music was played excessively loudly, including a three-hour period where the nursery rhymes 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' and 'Mary Had A Little Lamb' were repeated. Loud drilling and banging from maintenance staff also occurred, causing residents to cover their ears.
Environmental Concerns
The environment was described as dirty in places. Windows were unclean and appeared not to have been cleaned for a long time, only rectified after inspectors raised the issue. Furniture was visibly unclean and damaged, and pressure-relieving cushions were dirty with cracks, posing infection risks.
Maintenance equipment was left on the floor on the first floor, creating trip hazards. Residents were seen dishevelled, many without appropriate footwear, wearing only socks or none at all.
Management Failures
Managers were criticized for stationing themselves in an office away from residents. Inspectors noted that the home manager, chief executive, and quality assurance staff left the office only for drinks or food before returning.
The home had confusing signage, including pictures of a chair stuck on the wall, which could disorientate people with dementia. The manager could not explain why they were there.
Concerns were also raised about the management of residents' money, with a safeguarding referral made due to staff not managing finances effectively. Residents did not have access to their personal expenses allowance.
Regulatory Action
CQC has begun regulatory action, which Cressington Court can appeal. Andrew Peck, CQC's deputy director of adult social care for the north west, said: 'When we inspected, we found significant shortfalls in management, including the manager not being registered with CQC. Leaders didn't support staff to deliver person-centred care. We will return to check progress and have proposed using our regulatory powers further.'
This is the second home run by Lotus Care to be marked as inadequate, following Finch Manor in Dovecot. The ECHO contacted Lotus Care for comment.
