'Serious failings' at Liverpool care home where residents left 'wet through'

A Liverpool care home has been downgraded after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found “serious failings” and “risk of harm”.

Rowan Garth Care Home, located on Lower Breck Road and run by Wellington Healthcare (Arden) Ltd, provides accommodation for up to 150 older people who require nursing or personal care.

CQC said it carried out the inspection “based on intelligence it held about the service and people being potentially placed at risk”. At the time of CQC’s assessment 82 people lived in the home. Two visits to the home were conducted on June 25 and July 3 2025. The assessment concluded on July 17 2025.

During the inspection, inspectors issued two warning notices to focus Rowan Garth’s attention on making immediate improvements regarding safe care and treatment, and how the service is managed.

CQC has also placed the home into special measures, which involves close monitoring to ensure people are safe while these improvements are made.

Rowan Garth’s overall rating has been downgraded from requires improvement to inadequate. Safe, effective and well-led have been rated as inadequate, and responsive and caring have been rated as requires improvement.

Inspectors noted that staff sometimes didn’t have time to meet people’s personal hygiene needs, including supporting people with changing their continence pads.

According to the report, “some people’s continence records showed they were wet through and in need of a change of clothes on multiple occasions, indicating people’s continence care was insufficient”.

Other concerns included the management of people’s behavioural needs, wound management, dementia care management, the management of medicines and lack of support and supervision for staff.

Andrew Peck, CQC Deputy Director of Operations in the North, said: "When we inspected Rowan Garth, we found serious failings in leadership that placed people at unnecessary risk of harm. Leaders weren’t managing the service well, meaning people weren’t receiving the safe and person-centred care they deserved.

"Our inspectors saw that staff didn’t manage medicines safely, with some people receiving time-critical medications hours late. This is especially serious for people with conditions like Parkinson's disease, where timing is vital.

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"Leaders didn’t ensure the environment was safe and we saw broken equipment and inadequate facilities. The call bell system wasn’t fit for purpose and although the provider had been aware of this for over six months, no effective action had been taken to ensure people were able to call for staff help when needed.

"Whilst we found staff were kind and caring, they weren't supported by leaders to deliver safe care. Leaders also didn’t ensure staffing levels were sufficient, meaning people often experienced delays in receiving support.

“We have told leaders where we expect to see rapid, and continued improvements and will continue to monitor the home closely to keep people safe during this time. We have begun the process of taking regulatory action in order to protect people further.”

Inspectors did note that people and staff said unit managers were approachable and friendly if they had any concerns, and people said staff supported them to do things for themselves where they were able, for example to wash and dress.

People also told the CQC the care staff were kind, caring and respectful. Their comments included, “Very kind”; “Everyone is kind and considerate”; Staff are lovely”; “The girls are all very nice” and “Staff are all very kind”.

Rowan Garth Care Home has been approached for comment.