An Ayrshire care home has been asked to make improvements to its patient care following a visit from the Care Inspectorate.
Templeton House care home, in Ayr’s Racecourse Road, requires improvements in three key areas.
Following an inspection last month, the Care Inspectorate said residents should be supported by a “skilled and knowledgeable workforce” who have access to dementia care training – in line with current practice.
Staff at the home are also required to improve the way medication is “managed more safely” and “in line with best practice guidance”.
Another requirement, according to the Care Inspectorate, is for the home to ensure that all records about residents’ care and support set out how the health, welfare and safety needs of the individual are “to be managed and met".
The guidance follows two visits to the care home last month.
Templeton House is registered to provide a service to a maximum of 69 older people and the provider is Windyhall Care Home LLP.
An extract from the Care Inspectorate report said: “To prepare for the inspection, we reviewed information about this service. This included previous inspection findings, registration information, information submitted by the service and intelligence gathered since the last inspection.”
In making their evaluations of the service, inspectors spoke with 15 residents, eight of their family members, 12 staff and management, they observed practice and daily life and reviewed documents.
According to the Care Inspectorate people told them staff were “caring and friendly” and family members were “happy” with the care their relative received.
However, the Care Inspectorate did pick up on one or two issues.
Their report said: “We observed many staff who were kind and compassionate in their approach.
“However, we saw some staff practice that could be improved. Some staff were focused on tasks rather than on engaging with people. This can make people feel isolated and ignored.”
The approach of some staff and the “language they used” “did not promote the principles of dignity and respect,” inspectors noted.
The report goes on: “Some of the sitting rooms were noisy, which can be distressing for people living with dementia.
“There was a need to develop the knowledge and skills of all staff with regards to promoting a responsive, person-centred approach to care and improving outcomes for people.”
On the plus side, mealtimes were “well managed,” and people “spoke positively” about the choice of food and drinks offered.
There was plenty of PPE available and staff were using it correctly and adhering to “good hand hygiene.”
The Care Inspectorate said they had “difficulty” in determining if some care plans were “effectively managing people’s needs” as the evaluations “lacked detail.”
In addition, there were “some issues” regarding “cleanliness of the environment and equipment,” although the management team “responded promptly” to resolve them.
The report notes: “This highlighted that the quality audits were not effectively assessing aspects of cleanliness. This could result in issues with infection prevention and control, which could impact on people’s wellbeing.”
Supporting people’s wellbeing in the home and leadership were rated as 'adequate,' while setting, planning of care and support – and the quality of staffing – were all rated ‘good.’
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