Bank House Care Home

Updated 1 March 2024

This assessment began on 18 March 2024 and was concluded on 13 May 2024. Bank House is a residential care home providing personal and accommodation for to up to 43 people. The service provides support to older people, some of whom live with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 19 people using the service. We looked at all the quality statements as part of this assessment, due to the previous rating of Inadequate. Improvements had been made to meet some of the breaches in regulation with regards to consent, safeguarding and staff recruitment. However, we found two ongoing breaches of legal regulation: safe management of medication and governance systems. The provider continued to work with the local authority to address areas of concern. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment. The manager had identified additional training and development was required for those staff responsible for people’s medication. The manager was also liaising with the supplying pharmacy and GP surgery to resolve some of the issues identified. Governance systems had been introduced however we found these had not identified shortfalls we found during our assessment, such as the management of medicines. Audits and checks needed expanding upon and embedding to evidence robust and effective oversight of the service. Feedback received has been positive about the actions taken over the last few months. Relevant servicing and checks of the environment and equipment had been completed. Action had been taken help minimise the spread of fire. Further improvements were needed to enhance the environment. Work required was detailed within the home’s improvement plan. Hygiene standards had improved with the appointment of additional domestic staff. This service has been in Special Measures since May 2022. The provider demonstrated improvements that have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall.

Updated 1 March 2024

All the people we spoke with said they felt safe. We saw staff were present in communal areas and responsive to people’s needs. We observed care and support was delivered in a caring, dignified, and patient manner. People looked well presented, clean and tidy, dressed in their own clothes. Staff appeared to know people well and the residents knew staff by their name. People told us they able to make decisions for themselves and this was respected. People said they were encouraged and supported to maintain their independence, where possible, managing their own care and how they spent their time each day. People spoke positively about the new activity worker. Several people talked about activities/outings offered around their individual preferences. Others talked about how staff supported them with their appearance, which was important to them. People’s relatives said the appointment of the activities lady was a good thing, helping to stimulate residents and enabling them to become more active and feel more positive. People’s relatives felt communication had improved and had taken part in relatives meetings. Relatives said they could see things were being improved, for example, meals, activities, and the environment. All the residents and family members were very complimentary about the carers and felt generally there were enough staff around. People & relatives said the manager was very nice and trying to get things moving.