Working at Squeaks House Residential Care Home

Not enough staff on one day and agency could not cover the gap, leaving everyone stretched.

On the first day of our assessment there were not enough staff deployed in line with staffing levels as stated by the manager due to unforeseen circumstances. The manager told us steps had been taken to obtain ‘off duty’ and agency staff to plug the staffing deficit, but this was not successful.

Big gaps in training like 15 staff overdue on moving and handling with no specialist courses for catheters or stomas.

The training matrix provided by the manager demonstrated there were gaps in staff training. For example, 15 members of staff did not have up to date moving and handling training despite there being a designated moving and handling trainer available for the service. There was no evidence to support staff had received specialist training relating to catheter and stoma care.

Unsafe care practices observed like wrong moving and handling and risks such as dehydration not properly monitored.

We observed a member of staff perform unsafe moving and handling practices whilst supporting a person to mobilise while using a specific item of equipment... Not all risks to people’s safety and wellbeing were identified or provided enough detail as to how recognised risks should be mitigated. This referred specifically where people were judged to be at risk of dehydration.