Staffing shortage highlighted in 'inadequate' Cannock care home rating
A care home where a resident had to wait half an hour to be taken to the toilet by a staff member has been rated inadequate in a new report.
An inspection by the Care Quality Commission into Ashcroft Hollow Care Home, in Huntington, found that “there were not enough staff available for the residents and they continued to have to wait for support”.
The home was given an overall inadequate rating – while its safety and leadership was also given the lowest rating, and its effectiveness, care and responsiveness was rated requires improvement.
The home was praised for the procedures they had in place to protect residents from potential harm – adding that staff knew how to recognise and report potential abuse and had completed safeguarding training.
Inspectors also commented that the home was clean and tidy, and infection control procedures were in place and followed.
Inspectors visited the home, on Stafford Road, in October and found not enough improvement in staffing levels had been made since their last inspection, in November last year, and the home was still in breach of Regulation 18 (Staffing) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
The report stated: “We saw when people requested support to go to the toilet they had to wait for staff to become available to support them.
“We saw one person waited 23 minutes and a second person waited 30 minutes.
“At lunchtime there continued not to be enough staff available.
“One person shouted out for 22 minutes as they wanted a drink and there were no staff present to offer support.”
The report added: “Staff knew people well. People and relatives confirmed this. Care plans had been reviewed to ensure they were personalised and up to date. Staff told us they found care plans had the necessary information in they needed to offer support to people.
“People had the opportunity to participate in activities they enjoyed. One person told us, “There is always something to keep us entertained.”
Spokesman Ravi Selliah said: “I would like to reassure people that Leacroft Lodge Limited is working very closely in connection with the CQC, local authority and the CCG in order to make the necessary improvements so that we can enhance our CQC rating at our next inspection.”
