A care home has been ordered to improve for the third consecutive time after a watchdog found medicine and recruitment failings had put people ‘at risk of harm’. Richard House, in Cale Green, Stockport, has again been rated as ‘requires improvement’ following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The Beech Road home, which provides care for up to 33 people aged over 65, was last found to be ‘good’ back in May 2017. The CQC’s most recent visit, at the end of March this year, found ‘multiple and repeated breaches of regulations’ despite previously being told it must do better in 2020 and 2018.
And while a recently published inspection report notes that people at the home were ‘happy and felt cared for’, there were also ‘multiple and repeated breaches of regulations’. Officials found some aspects of the service were ‘not always safe’ and there was an ‘increased risk that people could be harmed’.
A key area of concern was the management and administration of medicines. Not enough improvement had been made since the last inspection and the home remained in breach of care regulations. “Medicines were not always consistently managed or administered safely in line with national guidance,” the report notes.
Officials found that up-to-date and completed medicines competency checks were not in place for six of the seven staff who needed them, while medicines were ‘not always stored securely or checked for safe temperatures’.
The report adds: “We found four people's medication sheets did not have their photograph to check the person's identity before administration of medicines. Medication rounds were conducted by different staff during the day and there was no robust system of handover between the rounds to ensure information was safely passed on.”
And while audits had been carried out, these had not picked up on the concerns Identified by the CQC during the inspection. Recruitment was another area in which the home, run by Denmax Limited, was found wanting on safety grounds.
“Robust recruitment procedures had not always been used and staff were not always recruited safely,” inspectors noted. "We were not assured that the provider had carried out the necessary checks to ensure staff were suitable to work with people who may be vulnerable.”
Officials found that information was missing in two of the three staff files they reviewed. One did not have an ‘appropriate’ DBS check - which provides information about criminal convictions and cautions. This staff member was not working within their resident permit, had no references and no record of an induction or any training completed.
While the registered manager provided inspectors with additional information about this staff member, it did not demonstrate that they had been safely recruited. Inspectors also found the home still ‘requires improvement’ in the ‘effective’ and ‘well led’ assessment areas.
“Although we found some improvements had been made in some aspects of running the home, we found the required improvements from the last inspection had not always been implemented,” the report adds. “Repeated shortfalls in environmental safety were identified on this inspection. These included hot water checks, radiator safety, gas and electrical installation and fire safety.”
Inspectors have made a referral to the fire service, who will inspect the home due to their concerns over fire safety. On a more positive note inspectors observed staff being attentive to residents during the inspection. People living at the home said they felt safe and there was enough staff around to care for them.
Staff training levels were also said to be ‘much improved since the last inspection’ and the home was no longer in breach of regulations in this respect. However, inspectors were unable to confirm new staff had always received the necessary training as the registered manager had not updated the relevant documentation before taking extended leave.
The CQC says it will meet with the careprovider following the publication of the report to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. It will request an action plan from the provider and also work with the local authority to monitor the home’s progress.
Richard House was contacted for comment.
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