A South Cumbrian nursing home has moved out of special measures – but still requires improvement.
The Care Quality Commission visited Swarthdale Nursing Home in Ulverston in December last year.
The home, on Rake Lane, had been in special measures since July 2023 but inspectors said sufficient improvements had been made and the service was no longer rated as inadequate overall.
They said: “We found areas of improvements and good practice. These included the appointment of a new manager and an increased staffing team.
“Actions had been taken and the service was seen to be safer, and the quality of the oversight systems and processes had improved.
However, we also found two new breaches of regulations in relation to fit and proper people employed and safe care and treatment.
“The provider’s recruitment process was not robust.”
They said they found that dates of previous employment had not always been established and gaps in employment were not always evidenced. References were not always obtained in line with the provider’s policies and procedures.
They added that systems and processes in place to manage medicines administration were not always effective and said: “we have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.”
Inspectors said they found the electronic medicines administration recording system was not being used properly, because some staff were not fully competent in its use.
Swathdale, run by Vishomil Limited, can provide care for up to 43 older people who having nursing needs and/or are living with dementia. When inspectors visited, 36 people were living there.
The Care Quality Commission said the home still required improvement overall.
