Care Inspectorate report on Port Glasgow's Newark Care Home

The Care Inspectorate judged the quality of support for residents' wellbeing at Newark Care Home as 'weak' - and gave the same verdict to the home's leadership.

The inspectors' report, published this week, labelled the staff team, the home's setting, and the quality of its care and support planning, as 'adequate', following a three-day visit on October 16, 17 and 18.

The visit came weeks after the watchdog gave the same 'weak' verdict on the home's leadership in September.

Four 'requirements' had previously been imposed on the home, which is part of the Anavo Group, along with four 'areas for improvement'. 

Newark Care Home in Port Glasgow was criticised in the Care Inspectorate's report. (Image: Lorraine Tinney) In their latest report, published this week, the watchdog said only two of the four requirements, and none of the areas for improvement, had been met.

The publication of the inspection report comes just over one month after a senior care assistant at the home was struck off for repeatedly assaulting a resident. 

In their latest report, the Care Inspectorate said they were concerned about gaps in recordings for people who required support with bowel monitoring, food and fluids, oral hygiene and re-positioning in bed to reduce the risks of skin deterioration. 

They added: "We could not be confident that people were being supported well with their needs due to the lack of recorded evidence to assess this.

"Daily meetings and records of meetings held with staff and leaders did not always demonstrate that communication was effective to ensure people's changing needs were known."

READ MORE: Port care worker struck off for repeatedly hitting man

Inspectors said the provision of activities had improved since the last inspection but said there were still issues. 

They added: "People told us that they enjoyed participating in organised group events and a new activities worker had been recruited to increase the frequency of planned activities. 

"Families expressed concern around the amount of time their relative spent in their bedrooms, bored or unstimulated."

Inspectors carried out audits related to people's support with their health and wellbeing, medication, infection control, and health and safety. 

They noted that while actions had been identified, timescales to complete actions were often delayed or incomplete. 

They added: "We were unable to measure the effectiveness of audits.

"We were concerned that the capacity, availability and skill of leaders and clinical staff was not sufficient.

"This had impacted on improvements being made to support better outcomes and experiences for people.

"Leaders were open and transparent to improvements to support better outcomes for people."

The report also raises concerns about staff provision to ensure people are supported safely and effectively, particularly when they may be at risk of choking, and said there were 'significant gaps' in daily recordings in relation to people's support over weekends.

They added: "Communication and practice to share information about people's health and wellbeing was not sufficient.

"This meant that people were at risk due to a potential delay in their care."

Issues were also raised in relation to cleanliness, and inspectors said further monitoring was required to 'maintain the standards of cleanliness people should expect in their home'. 

However, inspectors said staff in the home interacted with residents in a genuine and friendly manner, using humour which was appropriate to demonstrate positive relationships. 

A spokesperson for Anavo Group said: "We are aware of the Care Inspectorate report regarding standards at Newark Care Home. 

"Included in the report are improvements we are already addressing. 

"We are working with partners, staff, the residents and their family to take action and make improvements as quickly as possible. 

"Our staff at Newark Care Home remain absolutely committed to providing high quality care to all of our residents that live at our home."