Residents at a Dundee care home were left feeling “anxious and distressed” as a staff shortage meant they were not getting helped when they needed it.
An unannounced visit at St Ronans Care Home by inspectors found the care and support of residents was impacted by a high level of staff turnover.
Inspectors also found the heath and wellbeing of those at the home was being put at risk by a “lack of effective oversight” into their needs by the team in charge.
A report on the inspection rated the care home ‘weak’ in three of the four areas examined.
The visit was a follow up to a previous inspection that had taken place four months earlier, after which inspectors told the home to meet staffing needs and ensure care plans of residents respected their wishes and needs.
What did the inspection at St Ronans find?
During their visit at the Dalkeith Road home, in November, inspectors found staff were unable to respond quickly to residents who were “calling out for support”.
The report said: “On the day of inspection people were calling out for support.
“No staff were available to respond to this promptly, as they were supporting people with personal care in their own rooms.
“Without staff available to reassure or provide support, people began to experience stress and distress.”
It was also found the lack of staff meant some residents spent periods of time without any observation or support, something which led them to experience “anxiety, stress, and distress”.
The under-staffing of St Ronans Care Home, the report noted, had also impacted the morale of employees working there.
Care plans ‘did not identify people’s wishes’
Inspectors also found there was a “general” approach to plans for residents who are at the end of their life.
This, inspectors determined, meant individual needs and wishes were not being met.
The report noted: “We found that end of life care plans appeared to be quite general and did not clearly identify people’s individual needs and wishes.
“End of life care plans were not put in place timeously when someone was assessed as being at this stage.”
Inspectors ordered the home to ensure all personal care plans are reviewed every six months and that they “accurately reflect the current health and care needs of the person.”
A spokesperson for Balhousie Care Group, who run St Ronans, said: “Our residents and their care and respect are always at the heart of what we do, which is why the Care Inspectorate’s findings on a visit to our St. Ronan’s home some months ago, were very disappointing and do not reflect the standards of care we strive for throughout the group.
“We are, however, thankful to the Care Inspectorate for highlighting the serious staffing challenges facing the whole of the social care and health sector right now, and for acknowledging how very hard our staff are working. ”
Home to address concerns
The spokesperson added: “As the report notes, work had already begun to address the concerns in the report.
“We are fully committed to the health and wellbeing of our residents and to the support of our St. Ronans team, which has a strong reputation for its care and commitment, and we have every faith that it will meet the requirements set.”
Conversation