AN Oldham care home has been told it “requires improvement” following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

Following a visit by the CQC on August 5, Ashbourne House Care Home in Lees New Road, Oldham, it has been deemed to need improvement in categories, of safety, effectiveness, responsiveness and leadership. However, it’s caring service was described as “good”.

The home provides personal care for up to 35 people and at the time of the inspection there were 32 residents.

In its report the CQC said the home was generally well maintained and there was an ongoing redecoration programme.

“Staff followed good infection control practices,” it said. “However, we found some areas of the home would benefit from better cleaning. Some routine maintenance checks had not been completed regularly.”

There is currently an investigation taking place into financial impropriety at the home, the report said.

“New staff received an induction to the service and all staff received regular supervision,” it said.

“This provided them with an opport8nity to discuss their work performance and training needs.

“However, we found some staff had not completed their mandatory training.”

Risk assessment were completed and these helped identify if people were at risk from everyday harm, such as falls or poor nutrition. Care plans contained information to guide staff with how people wishes to be cared for.

But the inspection found some lacked detail and were “not person-centred”, particularly in relation to how people needed to be supported with their behaviour.

Medicines were administered safety and as prescribed, although greater detail was required in “as required” medicines protocols.

The report goes on: “ people were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported in them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

“Staff helped people to access healthcare services and received ongoing healthcare support.

“The service met people’s nutritional needs and people were provided with a good choice of food.

“People were supported by staff who were kind and caring and they were encouraged and supported to be as independent as they could. A range of activities were provided for people to take part in.”

It said systems were in place to ensure only staff who were suitable to work with vulnerable people were recruited. There were enough staff to provide the appropriate level of support t9o people.

Some quality assurance processes, such as audits, were in place. But they had not identified the concerns the CQC found in its inspection. The area manager had identified that improvements were needed with oversight and management of the service and had started to make some changes.