Last updated: 9 February 2026
"Staff feel supported with regular supervisions and meaningful daily activities thrive, but recruitment skips key checks and unsafe medicines handling raise concerns."
Systems used to manage medicines administration were not always safe or effective... The provider was in breach of the legal regulation 12 safe care and treatment.
All staff we spoke with told us they felt supported and told us they enjoyed working at Swarthdale. The management were providing regular support via formal supervisions and team meetings.
The provider’s recruitment process was not robust. The required checks of suitability to work with vulnerable people were not always completed... The provider is in breach of the legal regulation for fit and proper persons employed.
We saw from training records that some staff had not completed all the Elearning (on line learning) required. The manager was in the process of addressing this with staff.
A new manager was in post and was in the process of registering with us. Processes used and the oversight of recruitment procedures needed to be improved.
Meaningful and varied activities and social engagements were available to people every day... The home had developed good relationships in the local community with the primary schools who visited and participated in activities with people regularly.
Recruitment skips key checks like full references and proof of past jobs, raising safety worries even if shifts are covered.
The required checks of suitability to work with vulnerable people were not always completed. Records seen did not have all the information available for recruitment checks. For example, dates of previous employment had not always been established and gaps in employment were not always evidenced. References were not always obtained in line with the provider’s policies & procedures.
Medication handling has problems like missed doses and staff not fully using the electronic system right.
The use of the electronic medication administration recording system (eMARS) was not always safe or effective... We also found examples where eMAR reports showed doses had been missed but an error report had not been made.
Some staff are behind on required online training, even though supervisions happen.
we saw from training records that some staff had not completed all the Elearning (on line learning) required. The manager was in the process of addressing this with staff.
AI Generated
Last inspected: March 2025
Management Quality
Well-led: Requires improvement
Direct feedback from current and former employees

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