Working at Cherington

We observed occasions when staff did not provide the support people needed... staff member in the lounge did not observe [near-miss incidents]. 'Safeguarding' scored 2 due to oversight gaps.

Staff provided mixed feedback: 'Management and head office are closer than management and staff here... There’s not much hands-on support.' One staff member said permanent staff oversee agency but feel pressurised.

The majority of staff providing care on the day we visited were agency staff. 'Staffing levels, including staff deployment, were not sufficient to ensure people received an acceptable standard of care which put them at risk.'

Staff training records showed several staff had not updated or refreshed their training in areas such as safeguarding and infection prevention and control. '20 staff were overdue on their infection prevention and control training, including 5 whose training was a year overdue.'

The registered manager spent the majority of the day in their office. Staff said, 'Management... stay in the office a lot. There’s not much hands-on support from management. Whatever we say, nothing is resolved.'

There was a lack of meaningful activities... activities planner... mainly focused on things like art and craft, board games and chair exercises. No evidence to show how people were involved in planning.