Archived: The Robert & Doris Watts Nursing Home

We spent time talking with people in the home, several were aware of the home closing but raised no concerns. The activity organiser was in the home and we observed her encouraging people in colouring pictures and making collages, other people were watching television and several were reading newspapers.

We found that medication administration records had been completed appropriately.

We were unable to see evidence that a Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check had been undertaken for one member of staff. The manager told us that missing documents were probably ready for filing at the other home owned by the provider.

Staff told us they had received training in safeguarding adults from abuse, but were unaware of the date. We requested to see training records, but these were not available as the manager had gone off duty.

We spoke with staff on duty who told us "there is not enough staff on duty for us to do all the personal care for the twenty people in the home. We need another member of staff".

Many of the records were not available because the manager had gone off duty or we were told, kept at the providers other home.

The Commission had not been notified of these by the registered manager. None of the recent staff employed had experience of working with older people in a care setting.

The duty roster was not accurate as one of the staff rostered to work 2pm until 9pm, was also rostered to work at The Doris Watts Home from 2pm until 5pm.This reduced the staffing level in the afternoon to two staff and a nurse and no staff on duty at Clear Skies until after 4.30pm.

Three members of staff on duty had not been trained in moving and handling, although we were told that almost half of the people required hoisting.

We found confidential information in the office. We were also told that information kept on the office computer was not pass word protected and information kept was freely accessible.

We found during the visit that there was the potential for people to be put at risk through practices for the safe storage of chemicals, food safety and the storage of disused furniture in outdoor spaces. These concerns were rectified during the inspection visit but we were unable to test that this compliance was sustained. We identified that there was a moderate risk to people as appropriate pre employment checks were not carried out on the suitability of staff. Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) list checks had not been received for two members of staff before they had commenced working in the home.