Owners of a Workington care home ordered to improve its care says it has a robust action plan in place to tackle concerns raised by inspectors.
Stilecroft Care Home, on Stainburn Road, was told by the industry watchdog that it required improvement.
It was previously in special measures and the Care Quality Commission said while it had improved, its inspectors found it was putting residents at risk when they visited in March. Their report was published earlier this month.
They said noticeable changes had been made, but added: “We identified new concerns, which placed people at risk of harm.
“People were at risk as medicines were not managed safely. People did not always receive their medicines as prescribed. Staff did not monitor or escalate concerns where people refused their medicines repeatedly.
“The last rating for this service was inadequate and there were breaches of regulation.
“The provider met with us and completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection, we found the provider had made some improvements but remained in breach of some regulations.
“At our last inspection we recommended that the provider improve the support given to people living with dementia. At this inspection we found the provider had not met this recommendation.”
Inspectors found no evidence that people had been harmed but said systems were not established to ensure the proper and safe management of medicines and medicine was not always administered as prescribed.
In the September inspection, call bells were not always working and fire escape staircases were deemed unsafe by the inspectors. These issues had been addressed by staff.
In March, inspectors spoke with six people who used the service and five relatives about their experience and 11 members of staff, including the registered manager, manager, deputy manager, care workers, housekeepers and a maintenance worker.
Staffing levels at the home, which has 29 residents, are in line with guidelines, but at the lower average.
Staff at the home were praised by families for their care, but they said sometimes they struggled to find someone and workers said they were often stretched.
Inspectors told the home to monitor staffing levels. At the previous inspection, inspectors found that the home had failed to ensure all staff had received appropriate support and training, but this had been addressed and workers were knowledgeable and encouraged to develop in their roles.
They added that the effectiveness of people’s care, treatment and support did not always achieve good outcomes or was inconsistent.
However, the commission found that the home did meet people’s needs and rated it good.
Previously, the home had failed to provide residents with people-centred care but now, people received the personalised support they needed and formed good relationships with the staff.
One person said: “Anything you want, the staff will do, they are smashing.”
Paula Newbert, group operations and clinical director, said: “Our home was rated inadequate and is now rated as requires improvement, and this is down to the collaborative working with all stakeholders.
“We are happy that the CQC has recognised the hard work that staff have put in during this difficult time.
“We have a robust action plan working together with the CQC and the local authority to make further improvements and this action plan is already well underway.
“I would like to thank al our staff, residents, relatives and professional who have all worked together to make this achievable.”
