Three Towns Care Home receives ‘weak’ inspection ratings
Three Towns Care Home received ‘adequate’ marks from the industry watchdog following an inspection earlier this year.
As a result of this, a further visit took place at the end of September, with findings published last week.
The latest report showed that grades provided by the Care Inspectorate had lowered across five categories to ‘weak’ – the second lowest mark available.
The assessed aspects of the care home were: its support of people’s wellbeing; its leadership, its staff team; the home’s setting; and its planning.
The Holmes Care Group Scotland Ltd operated premises has now been afforded further time to meet requirements set out by the watchdog which were previously due to be met before the latest inspection.
Further details revealed “significant weaknesses” across graded areas which were of a similar nature to issues previously identified.
One of the matters previously raised was a need for investment on the upper floors of the home.
Report findings said: “People living in the service were not consistently experiencing care and support that promoted their health and wellbeing.
“Since the last inspection, there had been admissions to the care home, which had exacerbated the situation, particularly on the first floor.
“This was compounded by the temporary closure of one lounge, which resulted in the residents being confined to a single dining/lounge area.
“This negatively impacted personal care outcomes, the dining experience and individuals’ levels of stress and distress. People were observed crowded with limited access to drinks and stimulation.”
Staff within the care home did come in for praise, however, insufficient levels of employment remained an issue throughout the inspection.
The Care Inspectorate report added: “Staffing levels, at times, were insufficient to meet the needs of residents. The service continued to rely heavily on agency staff, including seniors and nurses unfamiliar with residents and care plans.
“Permanent staff expressed frustration at the lack of leadership and continuity, which impacted their ability to deliver care beyond basic tasks.
“Despite these challenges we observed the core staff team working hard and engaging well with people in a caring and compassionate way, making them feel valued.”
While further weaknesses were also noted with overall care planning and oversight with particular failings with regards to documentation.
After gaining further time to meet requirements, operators Holmes Care Group say they will be working closely with partners to make improvements.
A spokesperson said: “We take all feedback from the Care Inspectorate seriously and are working closely with the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership to review our operations and further strengthen the quality and consistency of care we provide.
“Our management team are available to support residents, family members and staff and are already implementing a detailed improvement plan to enhance the service.
“Our priority, as always, is for every resident’s wellbeing, ensuring they receive safe, compassionate, and high-quality care in a setting where they feel valued and supported.”
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