'Not consistently caring': Dudley nursing home told it must improve
A care home has been told it must improve by a health watchdog after an inspection labelled its leadership below par and said staff were 'not consistently caring'.
Comberton Nursing Home in King William Street, Amblecote, was told it requires improvement by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The home was rated as needing to improve overall, as well as in leadership, effectiveness, care and responsiveness – but good for safety.
After an unannounced inspection, the CQC found 34 people living at the home.
It said: "At our previous inspection in April 2014 the provider was not meeting the requirements of the law in relation to infection control standards.
"The provider sent us an action plan to tell us the improvements they were going to make. During this inspection in June 2015 we looked to see if these improvements had been made. We saw that improvements had been made so that people lived in a clean environment and the equipment they needed had been replaced.
"People said staff were kind and they had positive relations with them. However, staff did not consistently practice in a thoughtful way that ensured they had considered people's dignity and respected their needs.
"The provider had plans to increase the management structure by employing a deputy manager.
"The registered manager told us the biggest challenge to the service was recruiting nursing staff. She had interim agency nurses supporting her."
Inspectors also found leadership at the home to be lacking. Residents praised the home's staff, but inspectors found the care at the establishment needed improving.
Inspectors acknowledged they 'saw many examples of staff acting in a caring and thoughtful manner towards people' but felt more could be done. The report stated: "A relative told us that staff were kind and did interact with their family member, who was cared for in bed.
"But they had experienced a lack of care and consideration because their family member's hearing aid, teeth and glasses were regularly mislaid
"We heard examples where relatives felt more care could be taken. We found there could be more emphasis on respecting people's belongings and protecting dignity."
Safety was ranked as good by inspectors. Despite repeated efforts to contact the home, no-one was available to comment.
The CQC lists the care provider as JJB and KJ Patel, also known as Astley Care Home Group. They operate the Hillcroft Nursing Home in Wordsley, which also requires improvement, according to the CQC.
