Care home ordered to improve by watchdog - as it receives lowest possible rating
A care home has been ordered to make improvements after being given the lowest possible inspection rating by a health watchdog.
Hunters Lodge Care Centre in Codsall looks after people with dementia and has been rated as 'inadequate'.
Inspectors found allegations of emotional abuse were not being reported, the home was short-staffed and the staff that were there were not properly trained.
Staffing levels were not being monitored and residents did not have enough activities to keep them occupied.
The home was rated as inadequate overall of the five specific areas it was judged on, deemed as 'requires improvement' in three and inadequate in another.
Sue Howard, adult social care senior inspector, said: "We found that the care provided at Hunters Lodge Care Centre fell short of what we expect services to provide.
"We have told the home they must take action to resolve the issues we identified.
"We have made it clear that we will return to the home to check that the necessary improvements have been made.
"If not, we will take further action to make sure people living there receive care which is safe, effective, caring and responsive to their needs."
The report highlighted several failings.
It said staff were extremely busy and that while people were given personal care staff had 'no time' to spend with them.
It added: "Records showed that there were incidents reported by the staff where there was no physical harm but people may have suffered emotional and psychological harm.
"These were not referred to the local authority.
"Records showed that only a few staff had completed training in dementia care and in the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
"This training was particularly relevant to the staff to provide them with the knowledge and skills to provide people with appropriate care."
Inspectors found the home was failing to provide care which was safe, effective, caring, responsive or well led during an unannounced inspection in August.
The report added that staff had completed 'minimal training' for specific care needs.
It said: "For example only some staff had completed training in managing behaviour that challenged, although staff were supporting people with these needs.
"One staff member told us they were concerned they had not completed this training but were expected to support people who could exhibit aggressive behaviour.
"On the residential unit we saw that there was nothing available for people to do."
The home was unavailable for comment.
