Working at Ermington House

We identified an ongoing breach of the Safe care and treatment regulation and a further breach in the Premises and equipment regulation. The absence of effective oversight by the provider and registered manager placed people at risk.

Staff at the service told us they did not feel well supported or cared for by the provider or management team. There was a clear absence of morale amongst the staff team. One staff member told us, “We are trying our utmost to provide the best care for our residents, but with the lack of support from the company our efforts are futile.”

People, their relatives and staff told us there was not always enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs. A staff member commented, “There are times when we are extremely short staffed and recently this feels like it is most weeks.”

The registered manager was absent from the service at the time of our assessment and there was an interim manager in post. Staff told us they did not feel supported by the service leadership and have the opportunity to speak up.

We saw evidence of activities taking place and there was a long standing member of staff who supported people with daily activities. Plans for Christmas included making crowns, the local vicar coming, and making Christmas cards.