Barking & Dagenham (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Sahara Parkside in Barking has been rated ‘requires improvement’ by the Care Quality Commission after a recent inspection highlighted key service concerns.
The results of CQC’s March 18–19 visit were released this month.
Inspectors determined that “there was no registered manager in post at the time of our assessment which meant there was lack of leadership,” leading to the designation of “requires improvement” in the leadership category.
Sahara Parkside’s systems and processes were deemed “not always effective in assessing, monitoring and improving the quality of the service”.
The report said:
“The provider did not have clear responsibilities, roles, systems of accountability and good governance.
Sahara Parkside’s systems and processes had failed to ensure risks were always identified and mitigated because staff did not have the skills to manage some risks and information within people’s care records was not up to date.”
At the time of the visit, it was housing 17 individuals in 10 apartments.
The facility offers specialized care, support, and accommodations for persons with learning disabilities as well as those who may have physical disabilities, sensory impairments, or other complicated requirements, according to its website.
Additionally, Sahara Parkside’s safety category received a “requires improvement” rating, which is a decrease from the “good” grade it received during the last inspection.
Inspectors said:
“Some aspects of the service were not always safe and there were limited assurances about safety.
We noted there had been incidents where staff had been assaulted by people living in the service.
The provider told us the person responsible for delivering training to manage aggression was no longer qualified to do so which meant not all staff had up to date training.”
“Increased risk that people could be harmed” and “posed a risk to staff and people living in the service” were the findings of the inspectors.
According to the report, some individuals’ risk assessment and management plans had not been updated on a regular basis, and staff members lacked training in helping them control their hostility.
Some safety plans were deemed “out of date” in the assessment. During the evaluation, these were reviewed, acknowledged, and updated.
‘Good’ ratings were given to the service in the areas of effectiveness, responsiveness, and caring.
CQC said:
“People were treated with kindness and compassion and interactions indicated relationships between people supported and staff were genuine and positive.
The staff and management were able to describe the values, ethos and attitudes that created the right culture within the service.
There was a willingness to learn when things went wrong and an acknowledgement that the service may not suit everyone and where applicable the provider worked in partnership with others to find a suitable alternative accommodation.”
Residents said they felt safe in their homes and their families said health needs were met.
One family member said:
“They get in touch if [person] is unwell. Staff support [person] to the GP when they are unwell, they can tell when something is wrong.”
A request for comment from Barking & Dagenham‘s Sahara Parkside has not been answered.
How might this rating impact residents’ trust and future care at Sahara Parkside?
Residents’ and their families’ faith in the management and staff may decline as a result of their uncertainty or anxiety regarding the standard and safety of the care they get. Residents’ wellbeing and sense of security may be impacted by this.
Although it can result in changes, the rating frequently forces authorities and the provider itself to monitor the company more closely, which puts strain on employees. As the home works to resolve identified difficulties, residents may notice changes in routines or care techniques.
The care home may be prompted to make the required adjustments, raise staff standards, and increase staff training as a result of the rating, which will ultimately benefit the residents by improving services and results.