A BASINGSTOKE nursing home has been told it needs to improve after inspectors found medicines were not always managed safely and some staff were not checked during recruitment.

Pemberley House Care Home, in The Harrow Way, was inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in August 2022, and a report published on December 30 said it ‘requires improvement’ overall.

The home, which cares for up to 72 people, some of whom have dementia, is run by Willowbrook Healthcare Limited, which is part of the Avery Healthcare group.

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The CQC said it ‘requires improvement’ in four of the five areas inspected: safe, effective, responsive and well-led. It was graded as ‘good’ for caring.

Inspectors identified breaches to various regulations at the home and requested an action plan setting out how it will improve standards of quality and safety. It will now work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress.

The CQC found that some aspects of the service were not always safe, meaning there was an “increased risk that people could be harmed”.

The report said that medicines were not always managed safely, and people did not always receive their medicines as prescribed.

It added: “Some people had run out of some of their medicines and other people were not receiving their medicines at the prescribed times.”

There were also gaps in records.

Recruitment procedures were also found to breach regulations, with inspectors finding that not all staff had “appropriate pre-employment checks”.

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This included obtaining a full employment history and evidence of conduct in all relevant previous employment.

The report said: “Some records were not up to date or consistent. Staff described a blame culture between managers and other staff.”

The home’s décor was described as “not always well maintained and was not in line with dementia friendly guidance”.

Inspectors also found that people’s care plans were not always ‘person-centred’ and that activities in the home were ‘limited’, particularly for those less able to participate in group activities.

The report said: “Staff and relatives fed back that there was not always time for staff to dedicate one-to-one time with people for reminiscence or activities. The home was in the process of recruiting another activities co-ordinator.”

Some aspects of care were said to not be in line with ‘best practice’.

The report said: “Some staff raised concerns that they had been asked to undertake tasks which they were not trained or supported to do, particularly more senior staff who had been asked to complete clinical paperwork they were not familiar with.”

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However, the CQC said staff were “caring and kind” and inspectors observed staff being “patient and compassionate towards people”.

The report said: “Staff knew people well and managed their anxiety well. The home was clean and tidy, and risks to people’s individual health and safety were appropriately assessed.”

Inspectors said the chef was “knowledgeable and passionate” and that people “enjoyed the food”.

The CQC said it was “mindful” of the impact of the pandemic when inspecting Pemberley House and considering enforcement action.

A spokesperson from Avery Healthcare said: "We are disappointed with the findings of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and will continue to improve our service.

"The Pemberley House Care Home team strives to provide the very best care and support to the elderly residents that reside with them at all times.

"This is reflected in the ‘good’ rating in the inspection report for 'Is the service caring?' which stated that '… people were treated with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect.'."