Home rectifies its failings on day

Springfields (or Springfield House) Residential Care Home in Waterhead 'requires improvement'

A OLDHAM care home say they rectified all issues raised in a recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission within 24 hours of being visited.

Springfield House care home, on Waterworks Road, was found to have breaches of three of the Fundamental Standards of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 when inspectors visited last year.

Inspectors rated the care home, which provides accommodation and personal care for up to 24 people, as requiring improvement in all categories.

Inspection

However, manager Jessica Wilson says staff worked hard to put all the concerns raised in the inspection, including infection risks, administration gaps and a failure to respect people's personal belongings, within hours of inspectors visiting.

She said: "We were shocked and disappointed with the findings of the CQC.

"We are regularly visited by Oldham procurement team and they have not raised any issues with our care in the past.

"At the end of the day, we are a working environment and caring for our residents is our priority at all times.

"This was one inspection on one day and everything raised in the report was rectified and reported to the CQC within 24 hours of the visit."

The report noted issues with cleanliness and hygiene at the home including finding human faeces on the side of a bath at the start of the inspection, which Ms Wilson says was due to a resident using the bath in the morning of the inspector's visit and prior to cleaning being carried out on the day.

The report added that when visiting the laundry areas, inspectors found people's clothes, soiled linen and towels were strewn over the cellar stairs.

The report said: "This meant we could not be sure that staff were treating people's personal belongings with respect.

"We made a recommendation that the service seeks and considers current guidance on dignity and respect when supporting people."

Inspectors also noted an infection control risk as a cat was given access to a downstairs bathroom in the care home, with the cat's water and food bowls set up in the bathroom.

Improved

During the inspection people's individual medicine administration records were left out in a locked but unattended medicine trolley.

Inspectors also noted anomalies in medicine management with three people's records showing that they had received their medicine when the medicine was still contained in the blister pack.

Ms Wilson confirmed that all staff had been given a refresher course on medicine policy and all infection control risks had been addressed.

She said: "I am hopeful that at the time of our next inspection our rating will have improved.

"Our staff are fantastic and work very hard to ensure the residents are well cared for and that they and their relatives are happy with our service.

"We receive good reviews from our residents and their families as well as the Oldham procurement team."

This view was echoed in the CQC inspection report, which stated that relatives and visiting health care professionals praised the care home for their work, with one relative quoted as saying: "They are safe here, they do a tremendous job and are professional.

"We sleep easy now we know she is OK."

Inspectors also praised the staff as being "open and relaxed" and spoke to people in a "caring manner".

The report added: "There was lots of laughter in the home, staff were having a joke with people in an appropriate manner.

"We found staff had positive relationships with people who used the service."

Communal areas were described as "homely" and care home residents had the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities such as arts and crafts.

Staff recruitment records had been completed with references obtained and routine checks took place to ensure the safety and security of the home.