James Keen

PFD Report All Responded Ref: 2025-0140
Date of Report 2 January 2025
Coroner Lydia Brown
Coroner Area West London
Response Deadline ✓ from report 28 February 2025
All 1 response received · Deadline: 28 Feb 2025
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
Untrained support workers at supported accommodation conducted physical health checks without understanding results or their implications, leading to unreliable information and a lack of proper training oversight.
View full coroner's concerns
[BRIEF SUMMARY OF MATTERS OF CONCERN] (1) During the inquest the court was advised that the untrained support workers at the supported accommodation would conduct physical health checks including taking a temperature, oxygen saturation readings and pulse. The evidence was unclear as to whether blood pressure readings were taken. It was apparent that there was considerable confusion regarding what readings were being obtained, whether or not the readings were within normal limits, and what (if anything) the staff did with the results. The court was advised the thermometer at the home was broken.

(2) There seemed to be a real risk that the observations could give either falsely reassuring information and miss evolving ill-health indicators or be needlessly alarming for residents, by suggesting normal results were in fact abnormal, given the paucity of understanding of the support workers and lack of documentation.

(3) There was no evidence of induction or annual training or checking support workers understanding and ability to effectively carry out this quasi-nursing role, or that the qualified staff appreciated the lack of knowledge displayed in the evidence at inquest.
Responses
Revon Healthcare Other
Action Taken
Support workers received additional physical health monitoring training, vital signs equipment was verified as functional, and community teams were engaged regarding residents with physical health concerns. New support workers receive a 2-week induction period and annual mandatory training. (AI summary)
View full response
[BRIEF SUMMARY OF MATTERS OF CONCERN] (1) During the inquest the court was advised that the untrained support workers at the supported accommodation would conduct physical health checks including taking a temperature, oxygen saturation readings and pulse. The evidence was unclear as to whether blood pressure readings were taken. It was apparent that there was considerable confusion regarding what readings were being obtained, whether or not the readings were within normal limits, and what (if anything) the staff did with the results. The court was advised the thermometer at the home was broken. I can confirm that there is no expectation for healthcare assistants [HCAs] that work in supported living services to be qualified nurses and all our healthcare assistants have completed all the mandatory training that is required to work in social care settings. However, all our support workers have been additionally provided with adequate training specific to physical health monitoring to enable them to conduct physical health checks and our staff can independently raise concerns when readings appear abnormal by calling paramedics or booking urgent GP appointments including calling GP out of hours. I can confirm that vital signs equipment within the placement are all fully functional. See updated Physical Health training our staff have additionally undertaken attached. (2) There seemed to be a real risk that the observations could give either falsely reassuring information and miss evolving ill-health indicators or be needlessly alarming for residents, by suggesting normal results were in fact abnormal, given the paucity of understanding of the support workers and lack of documentation. Following the above valid statement, all staff have undergone additional physical Health Training. Staff have good understanding of the normal ranges and are able to raise concerns where readings appear abnormal and document accordingly to ensure residents are safely supported with any physical health challenges.[ see attached training certificates ] We have also stepped up engagement with community teams to ensure they are aware that residents with physical health concerns due to ongoing class A substance misuse have now been given eviction notices to terminate the placement as these residents are unable to guarantee their own safety in the community.[ See a sample of attached relevant incident report and eviction letters to this effect] (3) There was no evidence of induction or annual training or checking support workers understanding and ability to effectively carry out this quasi-nursing role, or that the qualified staff appreciated the lack of knowledge displayed in the evidence at inquest. I can confirm that all new support workers are indeed provided with 2-week induction period and have annual mandatory training to effectively work in their role [ see attached staff training matrix]
Sent To
  • Revon Healthcare
Response Status
Linked responses 1 of 1
56-Day Deadline 28 Feb 2025
All responses received
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Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.

Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 18 December 2023 I commenced an investigation into the death of James Stephen KEEN. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest . The conclusion of the inquest was Drug related death 1a Cardiotoxic Effects of Methamphetamine and Sildenafil 1b 1c II
Circumstances of the Death
James was found deceased in his room at Surbiton Surrey on 8 December 2023. He had a history of severe mental ill-health and substance abuse, together with diagnoses of autism and ADHD. He was living in supported accommodation and had input from community mental health services and seemed to be making progress with independent living, with a number of negative drug tests conducted prior to his death.
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.