A troubled Moray care home has made strides since its last review – though inspectors say there remains room for improvement.
Lythe Care Home, near Cullen, was blasted in two reports last year, one of which slammed staff for failing to protect residents
from being scalded by boiling water.
Following the home’s second unsatisfactory report card, bosses vowed that management changes had been made to ensure its patrons would be given better treatment.
A new Care Inspectorate review has now confirmed that progress has been made.
But the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) still listed some areas of concern.
The report, based on a visit late last year, described lighting conditions in some areas of the home as “very poor”, and said that some residents’ bedrooms were “stark”, and contained “few personal items”.
Inspectors also criticised the home’s overgrown gardens, and suggested they be more regularly maintained.
The report did note improvements in staff training, but said further work was needed.
It said: “Staff demonstrated a very positive attitude towards the residents, they were compassionate and caring.
“But one resident stated that although staff were lovely, some members ‘forgot’ they were dealing with ‘old bones’ and occasionally came across ‘a bit rough’.
“We discussed this with the manager as feedback, who agreed to discuss it at the next staff meeting.”
Following their second negative review last September, owners RDS Healthcare said they hoped the stewardship of new manager Georgina Symes would improve conditions.
Ms Symes’s efforts to bring about changes to the under-fire venue received praise in the report.
Inspectors said: “A new manager had recently taken up post, and this has had a significant impact on staff morale.
“There was a more positive atmosphere in the home, and the atmosphere during the inspection was friendly and the
staff appeared happy.
“This was having a positive outcome on the residents, who were observed smiling and laughing with the staff.”
And while a previous report lambasted staff for leaving an untouched meal in front of a resident for several hours, and refusing a request for a drink, the latest review highlighted “significantly improved” mealtime supervision.
The report graded both the care and support offered by the home and its management as “adequate”.