Walsall care home told to improve AGAIN after inspectors find not always enough staff to meet patients' needs

Concerns were also raised about private information being discussed in communal areas at Woodthorne Care Home on Thompson Street in Willenhall.

It has been given an overall rating of 'requires improvement' in the latest inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The home was told that it needs to improve across all five of the main inspection categories – safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership.

An inspection took place at the care home, which mostly looks after older people with dementia, in November.

It follows a previous inspection in July 2014 when bosses at Woodthorne Care Home were also told to make improvements regarding the management of medicines and also in assessing and monitoring the quality of the service provided to residents.

But the latest report says that action was not taken to remedy these issues.

The report also says people did not always receive support when they needed it due to the availability of staff at certain times.

Other complaints included that dignity was not always considered by staff, with private information discussed in communal areas. Although staff knew how to protect patient's dignity, the steps were not always followed.

Risk assessments were in place but were not always updated while accidents and issues were not always recorded. But the report said that patients felt safe living in Woodthorne Care Home and praised the skills of staff.

The inspectors also said that patients were happy with the food and drink offered. They also said that staff were 'caring'.

They were supported to maintain relationships and independence, and could make their own choices around the care they received, the report said.

A spokesman for the care home said action was being taken to address the concerns in the report but could not comment further.

Councillor Eddie Hughes said: "Walsall Council does commission care home services from Woodthorne Care Home. This report is obviously of concern to us and subsequently we're in discussions with the home, service users and their families who are our priority."