A Paisley-based care provider has received a damning report from inspectors who were alarmed staff delivered “an unsatisfactory level of care”.
Three inspectors from the Care Inspectorate carried out an unannounced visit to Wilkerr Care Services Ltd over four days in April.
Publishing its findings, the watchdog rated the care provider “weak” in three areas, with the other rating for how well they support people’s wellbeing being scored as “unsatisfactory”.
During the inspection, it was identified that three people were prescribed thickened drinks and there were “no choking risk assessments” in place and “no clear guidance and instruction” in care plans to ensure staff are thickening drinks to the prescribed level.
One family member told inspectors they had noticed “that not much of the thickener is being used as the contents are not reducing”, and they are “unsure” if staff know to use this or how much to use.
The watchdog published in their report that “this lack of instruction places people at risk of aspiration which could lead to chest infection or choking”.
Wilkerr Care Services Ltd is registered to provide a care at home service providing support to people in their own homes in Renfrewshire. This includes support for older people and adults with learning and/or physical disabilities.
During their unannounced visit to make their evaluations, the inspectors spoke with several people using the service and spoke with the staff and manager.
Inspectors also observed practice and daily life of staff members carrying out duties and reviewed documents. In a detailed probe, inspectors found care plans and care summaries “lacked flexibility” around people’s support.
Many care plans which inspectors looked at told staff the days of the week individuals should be “offered” a shower or a bath, meaning people’s choices were not always being considered. In rating the staff team, inspectors ranked this as “weak”.
Inspectors had concerns the service was planning to increase the support they provide to people but had no plans to increase their staffing levels.
Their report stated: “Evidence we saw about staff numbers and hours of care being delivered, shows the service does not have sufficient staff to deliver the planned increase in support.”
There was a staff team of 37 actively providing care at the time of the inspection and the watchdog found training was “basic and restricted”.
Inspectors were given evidence of training staff had completed. This showed not all staff have yet completed all mandatory training modules, meaning not all staff have the “knowledge and skill” to support people receiving care.
A raft of improvements have now been demanded by the Care Inspectorate with a deadline of Monday, June 19.
These include the provider must ensure they keep people safe and healthy by implementing medication risk assessments and care plans for every individual using the service.
And by Monday, July 10, the provider must ensure it has appropriate numbers of staff and that all staff have the knowledge, skills and understanding to meet the assessed needs of service users.
Wilkerr Care Sevices was contacted for comment.
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