Working at British Home & Hospital for Incurables

Risks were not always managed safely. Medicines were not always managed in a safe way. Risks within the environment had not been identified or managed effectively. Infection control procedures were not robust.

Staff did not feel leaders were always capable and compassionate. Comments from staff included, “The leadership and management needs to improve. They need to ensure adequate staffing levels and offer better psychological support for residents and staff” and “They need to offer better emotional support to staff.”

Staff told us there were not always sufficient number of staff on duty to meet people’s needs safely and effectively and agency staff were not always suitably skilled. Comments from staff included, “We are short of staff on shift” and “At times there are not enough staff so we use agency staff. The agency staff that come to work my floor do not stay as they do not know what to do, how to use the equipment, sliding sheet, hoists, I have to show them.”

Training records showed that attainment levels for refresher training were far below the expected target of 95% which was stipulated by the provider’s training policy. Staff were not supported through regular supervisions and appraisals, in line with the provider’s supervision/appraisal policy.

The registered manager had recently left and the provider was in the process of recruiting a range of senior staff including a replacement for the registered manager.