Sydney aged care home St Charbel’s Care Centre Punchbowl fails all eight compliance standards in aged care watchdog probe

A scathing report into a western Sydney aged care home has heard concerns of residents not being provided with effective care, with relatives and residents complaining of staff shortages and ‘foreign objects’ allegedly found in food.

The aged care home has been handed 39 requirements it must meet to ensure compliance standards.

An aged care home in Sydney’s west has been ordered to improve its standards and failing a string of compliance measures including the clinical care of residents.

A scathing report into services provided by the St Charbel’s Care Centre in Punchbowl stated the facility was not compliant with all eight of the key compliance measures the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission uses to assess aged care standards.

The report follows an inspection by the regulator between August and September this year which detailed instances of staff not always being aware of the care needs of residents.

In response to the audit, the centre has been issued with 39 requirements it must meet to ensure compliance.

The report, made public this month by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, stated the service had failed to demonstrate clinical and personal care was provided at all times in a safe and effective manner.

A photo of the aged care home.

Pain management was not always identified or effectively managed, and strategies were not monitored appropriately or reviewed for effectiveness, the report stated.

Records for one resident who required twice weekly therapeutic treatments by allied health professionals showed treatment was only provided three times in one month.

For four residents who were administered chemical restraints, the audit report stated the service was unable to demonstrate non-pharmacological measures were first implemented to ensure restrictive practices were used as a last resort.

The audit report also raised concerns over the monitoring of care requirements for residents which it stated was “not consistently” being followed by staff.

The inspection has identified areas of noncompliance.

Staff shortages and a reliance on contract employees was another area of concern with some relatives of residents claiming there was a “high proportion of staff who were not able to demonstrate they were familiar” with the needs of residents.

For two residents, the audit report stated elevated blood glucose levels were not monitored by staff as directed.

Family members of residents expressed concern about the “lack of knowledge” of some clinical staff including in relation to ensuring medical reviews were conducted..

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission in its audit stated that “most staff were unfamiliar with the daily living needs of residents or their lifestyle preferences”.

During the audit, the inspectors observed many residents, some with a cognitive impairment, seated in communal areas and not engaged for periods of time.

Relatives also claimed residents of the home were not always provided with hygiene care and reported instances of staff being “late” in providing assistance when providing care.

Some relatives also claimed the centre did not share information with them relating to changed conditions of residents.

Other areas of concern outlined in the audit included claims by residents that “foreign objects” had been found in meals which were “unpalatable” or could have caused them to choke.

In a written response to the report, the St Charbel’s Care Centre told the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission that care plans for some residents have been updated to “better reflect” their care needs.

The centre said it had reduced the usage of agency registered nurse staff. and have hired several new employees to reduce reliance on agency staff.

The response stated staff have also received additional training.

The Daily Telegraph contacted St Charbel’s Care Centre for comment on the audit but did not receive a response.

The audit is part of checks by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission which assesses aged care providers against eight quality benchmarks.

The standards are designed to make it easier to check that residents of aged care facilities receive “good care” and outline what “a good aged care should look like”.

Originally published as Sydney aged care home St Charbel’s Care Centre Punchbowl fails all eight compliance standards in aged care watchdog probe