A CARE home in Northwich has been rated ‘inadequate’ following a CQC inspection.

Lostock Lodge, in Lostock Gralam, previously had the rating ‘requires improvement’ but has now been downgraded after an inspector observed more problems at the home.

The home was rated inadequate in the categories of safety and management and requires improvement in effectiveness, how caring the service is and how responsive it is.

Safety is one of the major issues the inspector addressed.

The inspector said: “At this inspection we identified multiple new or repeated breaches of the regulations relation to assessing and mitigating risks to people's health and wellbeing, the safe management of medicines, dignity and respect and good governance.”

“We found that people were at risk because their medications were not being recorded, administered and stored in accordance with guidance.

“Staff were not competent to administer people's medicines safely and effectively. Staff were not adhering to the registered providers polices the management of medication and any training staff had received had proven to be inadequate.

“Two people had used toiletry products in a way that was unsafe for example mistaking liquid soap for moisturiser or eating makeup.

“Two people had used toiletry products in a way that was unsafe for example mistaking liquid soap for moisturiser or eating makeup.

“The overall rating for this service is 'Inadequate’ and the service is therefore in 'special measures'.”

Management is said to be a major issue with the home according to the report.

The inspector said: “At this inspection we found ongoing concerns and the registered provider is again in breach of regulations.

“Any necessary improvements to the quality and safety of people's care was not proactively identified and demonstrated that the management systems in place were not driving or sustaining improvements.

“Leadership within the service was ineffective. On the second day of the inspection we had to raise with the manager and the operations manager our concerns that there was less staff than required on the first floor.

“We could not be assured that the registered provider understood the responsibilities of their registration with us. They had failed to notify us of reportable incidents that had occurred at the home. This included safeguarding incidents or incidents where harm had occurred.”

The inspector expressed problems with staffing as well, but there are positives about the staff.

The inspector said: “Although staff were caring in their manner, they often appeared rushed and we did not observe many examples when staff were able to sit and spend time with people.

“The staff supported people to maintain relationships which were of importance to them.

“There service supported a number of married couples who had rooms next door to each other or bigger beds to allow them to have private time together.

“Relatives told us that they were able to visit at any time and were made to feel welcome.”

A spokesperson for Country Care Homes, Lostock Lodge Care provider, said: “Unfortunately, the CQC’s inspection came at an extremely difficult time for Lostock Lodge.

“Our Home Manager had left for personal reasons at very short notice and because of this, we were only in the preliminary stages of the recruitment process when the inspection occurred.

“This obviously had a short-term impact on the provision of care. However, many of the issues highlighted by this CQC report had already been identified by the operational team, and processes had already been implemented prior to the inspection, to rectify them.

“Country Court Care have every confidence that we will be re-inspected within three months, and the result will be much more positive.”