A residential home left an inspection team alone in the building and waiting 15 minutes after members had been ‘buzzed in.’
Halmer Court has been rated as ‘requires improvement’ overall by the Care Quality Commission, and a report published this week said the home had been in breach of regulations.
“There had been improvements since the last inspection, and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
However, there were still some areas where improvements were needed to ensure people received safe care,” said the report.
Noting that environmental risks were ‘not always well managed’, the report said chemicals were found in unlocked cupboards and a large knife was stored in an accessible drawer.
“Entry to the care home was not fully secure. Inspectors were buzzed in but remained in the building for approximately 15 minutes before any staff arrived to greet them. This raised concerns about the monitoring of visitors and the overall security of the premises,” said the report.
The home, on Spalding’s Halmer Gate, can cater for up to 66 residents and there were 35 at the time of inspection.
Infection control was also highlighted by the report, which said ‘some areas of the home’ were not cleaned effectively.
The inspector also noted a family member propped open the door of a relative in isolation, compromising measures to prevent cross-contamination.
“Additionally, some dining tables were left with dirty tablecloths after lunch, which did not promote a consistently dignified or pleasant mealtime experience,” the report added.
It also said lunch felt rushed and not very personal without clear options.
But there was praise for a newly-appointed manager who ‘took immediate action’ to improve cleanliness.
“The new manager had begun to take steps to rebuild and strengthen the home’s culture following a period of instability caused by multiple changes in leadership.
“Staff reported that the atmosphere had improved since the new manager’s arrival, describing her as supportive, approachable, and someone who followed through on commitments. This shift in leadership had started to foster a more positive and trusting environment,” the report said.
“The home had not been left in a good position by the previous manager.”
But the inspectors noted that, despite the best efforts of the new manager, “there was little evidence of effective oversight from the provider to drive improvements in care. The progress seen was largely due to the new manager’s efforts in a short space of time.”
Of the five key areas inspected, three (effective, caring and responsive) were awarded ‘good’ while safety and leadership were both identified as ‘requiring improvement.’
Halmer Court is run by Glenholme Senior Living (Spalding) Ltd and provides nursing care for adults, including those with dementia.
People living at Halmer Court generally felt safe and well cared for and there were examples of good practice.
Families also said they were confident that staff responded quickly if someone’s health changed.
“Overall, Halmer Court is on a journey of improvement. The foundations for better care were being laid, but sustained progress will depend on continued leadership stability, stronger governance, and a more consistent focus on safety, dignity and personalised care,” the report said.
