An inspection at a care home found that people’s medicines ‘were not always managed safely’ and that safeguarding concerns were not always ‘responded to effectively’.

A CQC visit to Heaton House Care Home was in part prompted following concerns raised about the overall governance of the service, people's safety, and low staffing levels.

The care home was rated as ‘requires improvement’ overall, which looked at whether the service was safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led.

The service was rated as good in the caring category in the latest report on the home on Greenmount Lane.

The report said: “People's medicines were not always managed safely; record keeping and systems relating to the management, storage and administration of people's medicines were inconsistent.

“Risks relating to the safety of the environment had been identified but not actioned for significant periods of time. “

The report found that safeguarding concerns were not always ‘responded to effectively’.

The report continued: “The provider had recently lost a number of staff and had carried out rolling recruitment; however, in some cases there were gaps in references and the correct service was not recorded on staffs DBS certificates; we discussed this with the provider who addressed this immediately.”

Audits had also not been carried out by the registered manager or the provider.

The report said: “Audits which had been completed by other members of staff identified similar actions for a number of months without action being taken.

“The provider were not always clear on when notifications to CQC were required; however, we were assured this was due to a lack of oversight and governance as safeguarding referrals had been made and the provider had liaised with CQC.”

The provider had not implemented systems which ensured staff were suitably skilled, qualified and had the relevant experience to provide care and support.

The inspectors also found that a meaningful and varied programme of activities was not implemented.

The report said: “We observed little evidence of people being engaged in activities and people and relatives feedback corroborated our observations.”

One of the positive aspects highlighted in the report said that staff felt supported by the management team and felt confident that changes being made would improve the service.

People and their relative’s also felt care was provided by staff who understood how to meet their needs, promote their independence and dignity, and protect their privacy.

The report said: “Staff demonstrated a good understanding of person-centred care and how to support people as individuals.

“Staff told us this culture was apparent across the staff team and people confirmed this by describing staff as ‘kind’, ‘hardworking’ and ‘beautiful’.”

The last rating for this service was requires improvement.

The provider have been approached for comment.

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.