Exmouth care home 'requires improvement', CQC says

Linksway Nursing Home in Exmouth 'requires improvement', the Care Quality Commission has said.

The health watchdog said medicines were "not always managed safely, or in line with the provider's medication policy" at the Douglas Avenue care home, which it previously rated 'good'.

This related to "the completion of medicines administration records (MAR), the administration of external/topical medicines and the disposal of medicines".

The CQC added that people were "at risk because care plans did not provide the detailed information staff needed to meet their needs in line with their preferences".

It gave as an example how there was "no care plan to advise staff how best to support a person experiencing frequent periods of distress" and there was "no specific information in care plans about people's communication needs and care plans were not available in different formats".

On the other hand, the watchdog described how the registered manager "promoted a culture of openness and honesty", was "open and transparent during the inspection" and took "immediate action in response to concerns raised".

In addition, "overall, people and relatives spoke highly of the quality and safety of the service" and people's outcomes "demonstrated risks were well managed overall, with improvements in physical health conditions".

Moreover, people were supported to have "maximum choice and control of their lives" and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests.

Staff told the CQC that they felt "valued and happy" working at the service. They felt well supported and were reportedly "passionate" about their role.

When the watchdog spoke to visiting health professionals during the inspection, they "spoke positively about the responsiveness and effectiveness of the service".

Director of Exmouthcare Ltd (t/a Linksway and Amberwood Nursing Homes) Bob Gunn said: "We accept that there have been gaps in our documentation, none of which have had a negative impact on the high quality of care we continuously strive to deliver.

"Despite the rating of requires improvement, the bulk of the report is positive.

"Within the CQC inspection process we are required to submit an action plan by 30 August, to deal with the specific areas that need improvement.

"By the time our action plan is submitted, every area outlined in the report will have been dealt with and we will then look forward to CQC re-inspecting as soon as possible, to re-instate our previous good rating."

Click here to read the report.