Time to upskill care services
Some staff said to lack‘necessary’skills
A care and support service for people living in Blairgowrie has been told to better train its staff “without delay” after inspectors noted some lacked required knowledge.
The Care Inspectorate has said everyone working for Rattray-based Diamond Care must undertake training it deems “necessary” after concluding some employees lacked the skills to support people in their own homes “safely and effectively” during an inspection.
“People should have confidence that staff are trained, competent and skilled,” it said in its latest report on the Balmoral Road-based service, which rated its quality of care and support only as “adequate” and its quality of management and leadership as “weak”.
“We found the provider was not offering training opportunities and staff told us they had not undertaken the necessary training to enable them to effectively and safely meet people’s needs.
“For example, we made the provider aware that the provision of moving and handling training for staff was required even if equipment such as hoists was not being used.
“A number of people using the service were living with dementia and we were disappointed to find staff had not undertaken training in dementia.
“Staff supported people who displayed stress and distress reactions and the absence of training indicated that staff were not equipped with the skills and knowledge to provide appropriate support.”
The scrutiny body’s report continued: “We were concerned to find that some staff had not undertaken training in adult support and protection.
“People should expect to be protected from harm, neglect, abuse, bullying and exploitation by people who have a clear understanding of their responsibilities.”
It added: “Staff supported people with a wide range of health conditions, for example, catheters and stoma care and people were also prescribed warfarin.
“We felt that the care plans lacked sufficient detail as to how these health needs were being managed and monitored. We expected to find guidance as to when medical advice should be sought.”
The Care Inspectorate has since instructed Diamond Care’s management to develop, implement and regularly review relevant risk assessments and to see to it all its staff undertake training in adult support and protection, moving and handling and treating people with dementia by June 30.
The PA has approached Diamond Care for a comment on the Care Inspectorate’s findings but has yet to receive a response.
Some staff had not undertaken training in adult support