Care home is ‘back on track’ after being rated ‘inadequate’
STAFF ‘STRESSED AND EXHAUSTED’ THEY TOLD INSPECTORS
THE manager of a Nottingham nursing home which was rated inadequate by inspectors has vowed the centre is “back on track”.
Highfields Nursing Home, situated off Highbury Road in Bulwell, was given the worst possible overall rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after an inspection in late October.
In the report, published on December 9, the watchdog said the home put its 30 residents ‘at risk of neglect.’
“Failure to maintain oversight of people’s basic care put them at risk of neglect,” it reads.
Other problems were pointed out with other areas, such as a lack of monitoring of potential safety issues and staff shortages.
The report adds: “Opportunities to learn from incidents and accidents were missed.
“The management team told us that their monitoring of incidents had fallen behind due to staffing shortages. One member of staff told us, ‘I don’t know how incidents are reviewed.’”
Staff told inspectors that they were “exhausted a n d stressed”, according to the report.
Inspectors also said they were ‘not fully assured’ the home was up to date on covid guidance, including rules on visiting and proper use of PPE.
In terms of leadership, management was said to be two months behind with audits of documentation, pressure damage, medicines, infection control, mattress checks and cleaning. Inspectors added: “Staff told us they were stressed and overworked and did not feel listened to or valued. Staff told us the management team tried to support them, but they were also overworked.” The CQC subsequently rated both the safety and leadership of the home as ‘inadequate.’ Highfields manager Teresa
Staff told us the management team tried to support them but they were also overworked.
Rigby said she was “fully committed” to improving the home.
“We are disappointed with the rating,” she told the Post.
“Our staff have worked extremely hard throughout the pandemic. There were shortfalls in standards of care but we have a robust and comprehensive action plan in place.”
She added the home has had a “massive recruitment drive” since.
“We have recruited above what we need for the domestic side of things. It’s completely back on track now. There was a blip where there were staffing problems at the end of the summer but that’s not a problem any more.”
CQC Inspectors’ report