A SOUTH Cumbrian nursing home has been found to be ‘inadequate’, a health watchdog inspection report has found.

Swarthdale Nursing Home in Ulverston has been placed under ‘special measures’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Two inspectors visited the nursing home in Ulverston unannounced on April 24 2023 to observe the provision of care provided over two days.

The inspection came after concerns relating to infection control, management and staffing, plus the results of an inspection last year which found breaches of legal requirements and concluded that the provider ‘required improvement’.

Initially, inspectors focused on safety and management, but they were then forced to widen the scope of their inspection after they identified six breaches in relation to safe care and treatment, person-centred care, need for consent, receiving and acting on complaints, staffing and good governance.

The report concluded that residents were not protected against harm, some staff members had not completed the required training related to providing care safely, and that the provider had no effective oversight of the care home or governance arrangements to ensure people received high quality care.

Inspectors said: “People told us they did not like to bother the staff because they were so busy.

“People told us there was ‘nothing to do’ and there were not enough activities to meet the needs of different people.”

Inspectors also spotted that staff were handling medicines, food, and drinks without washing their hands or using hand sanitiser and that they were unclear about Covid-19 guidance, because the registered manager had not provided them with the updated best practice guidance in relation to visitors entering the care home.

The report added: “The provider had failed to ensure there were sufficiently skilled and supported staff to meet the needs of the people.”

However, inspectors at the care home on Rake Lane, which can provide for up to 43 people, found that staff systems were used when new staff were recruited, mealtimes were flexible to people’s wishes, and that staff interactions with residents generally were kind, caring and respectful.

The commission said it will now meet with the provider to discuss how it will make changes to ensure it improves in rating to at least ‘good’.

Swarthdale Nursing Home were approached for comment.