Ribbleton care home mismanaged medicine, damning new CQC report concludes

Bridgeway Care Home on Gamull Lane in Ribbleton has been told it requires improvement in the safety and well-led aspects.

An inspection carried out last month by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found that medicines were not always managed safely.

A container of 'thickener' left in a communal area, which was not locked away.

Thickeners are added to drinks to make them safer for people who are at risk of choking. Accidental ingestion of thickener could cause harm.

Two people were prescribed thickeners according to their care plans. Staff described using different amounts of thickener to what the care plans stated, but at the inspection instructions were not visible for staff in the kitchen or dining room.

The report read: "Staff did not record how much thickener they added to people's drinks which meant there was a risk the wrong amount of thickener could be added to a person's drink.

"Staff did not always document the date of opening for topical creams, to make sure that these were discarded when no longer safe to use."

It was also noted the care took place within a care home environment rendering it difficult to have different opportunities to maximise people's choice, control and independence.

However, at times people were supported with their own interests; for example, staff supported people who wanted to do their own shopping.

In the well-led aspect it was found that service management and leadership was inconsistent meaning the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care was not always ensured.

Managers and staff were not always clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirements.

At a previous inspection, published last August, a recommendation about recording more detail in the auditing process was made.

Although some improvements had since been made, the medicines audit did not highlight issues about the safe management of medicines that were found during this inspection.

It was then recommended the provider reviews their auditing processes to make sure issues are identified and acted upon in a timely manner.

The report added: "Although there was a registered manager in post, they were also the proprietor of this home and another, which could cause difficulties in providing a high level of oversight for Bridgeway Care Home.

"To prevent such difficulties, the provider told us they were actively recruiting a different registered manager however had not yet found someone suitable."

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information the health watchdog held about this service and therefore inspected the key questions of safe and well-led only.

For those key questions not inspected, ratings awarded at the last inspection were used to calculate the overall rating.

However, it was found that there was a positive culture amongst staff who explained they "loved their jobs". Relatives were positive about the home citing "It is the perfect place".

The provider has now been asked to send a report that says what action they are going to take.

The residential care home provides personal and nursing care for up to 29 people, supporting to adults aged between 18 and 65 with a physical or learning disability and or autistic spectrum disorder.