Healthcare watchdog inspectors have ordered an Oldham care home to improve again – just months after its management was told it was placing people "at risk".

Treelands Care Home in Fitton Hill was given a rating of "requires improvement" in May after a visit by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in March.

READ > Oldham care home criticised in report for putting residents 'at risk'

A focused inspection by the CQC in September checked the safety and leadership of the Westerhill Road care provider, which provides accommodation and nursing care for up to 80 people

In a report, published on Thursday, November 17, inspectors said both areas "require improvement".

Inspectors did not examine whether the home was effective, caring, or responsive as they did in the Care Quality Commission’s previous full inspection.

Inspectors said problems noted in the previous inspection had not been addressed, with the service not always safe or well-led.

Leaders were criticised and official warnings issued for poor record keeping – meaning a number of safeguarding incidents had not been reported to the CQC, breaching regulations.

A staff member also said there was a lack of time to spend chatting with residents.

Improvements required with its medicines management, record keeping, staff training and supervision, engagement with people and relatives, reporting of incidents to the CQC, and the audit and governance process.

Medicines were not always managed safely.

The care home was again criticised for its management of thickening powder, which is added to the fluids of people who are at risk of choking – with inaccurate records and unsafe storage.

Manufacturers’ directions were not followed in administering medicines, with some people given doses too close together or at the wrong times.

Fridge temperatures were not safely monitored – meaning the diabetes drug insulin may not have been stored safely.

One staff member told inspectors: “All we seem to do is get the residents up, sort breakfast, help them get dressed, give dinner, give tea and then help them to bed.

“There’s no time to spend with people to chat or do anything else, it’s all very task related.”

The leadership of the service was once again criticised, with poor record keeping leading to inconsistencies and gaps.

Leadership also had not implemented planned and agreed actions to ensure staff training was up to date.

Its effectiveness is ranked as "requires improvement" but the areas of whether it is "caring" and "responsive" are ranked as "good".

The service is run by Postgrad Limited, itself run by Handsale Limited, based out of Pinner in the London borough of Harrow.

The care home has been approached for a comment about the inspection.

The full report can be read on the CQC website.