17, 21 December 2010
During an inspection in response to concerns
People who use the service told us they had not been offered a drink after getting up early that morning. Staff told us it was because they were too busy attending to other people.
People who use the service told us what they think about the staff that work at the home, they said:
'The staff are very good and caring'.
'Staff are very busy but take good care of us'.
'Staff sometimes take a while to answer my nurse call bell'.
'The staff work very hard'.
'Staff don't have much time to sit and talk to us'.
During our visit to the home one person using the service told us that morning they called for staff using their call bell they said they waited a while and no body responded so they used their emergency bell and it was only then that staff came to their assistance.
Sefton Local Involvement Network (LINKs) visited the home in September 2010. LINKs is a network of local people groups and organisations who want to help improve adult social care services within Sefton. The report, which they wrote following their visit, did not include any concerns about staffing at the home. The report commented, 'Staff were very co-operative with the requirements of the residents'.
During our visit to the home we talked to some staff, comments made by them included:
'We work really hard'.
'We are short staffed sometimes usually if somebody suddenly goes off sick and can't be replaced'.
'I think there are enough staff on duty to meet the needs of the residents'.
People told us that the home was short of cleaning staff, however the manager told us that she has recruited a new cleaner who is due to start work at the home very soon.
Social workers who worked with us to look at the concerns we received told us that residents were being well cared for and were not at any immediate risk because of a shortage of staff at the home.
They also told us they received assurances from the provider Mr Berry telling them that he has made sure that there is the right amount of staff working at the home during each day and night.
Mr Berry and the registered manager Mrs Stretch told us that they have employed more staff to work at the home and have made sure that there are always enough staff on duty to meet the needs of the people that use the service.