A CARE home has been ordered to improve after inspectors found it was not up to scratch.

Care Quality Commission inspectors visited Poppy and Bluebell units at Elizabeth House, Benfleet Road, Hadleigh, and found it not up to standard in some areas.

Although the home was praised for its care, welfare, food and medicine management, the Care Quality Commission said it had to improve staffing levels and how it monitored the quality of the service it provides. The managing director of Elizabeth House, Logan Nadarajah Logeswaran, said Runwood Homes was “continually”

striving to improve standards and would take the Care Quality Commission’s comments on board.

During their visit, inspectors found a resident struggling and no staff around to help him.

The report stated: “Shortly after our arrival, we observed one person who used the service attempting to remove their wet incontinence pad.

“It was evident from our observation the person was struggling to undertake this task independently.

“We spoke with the person and they confirmed their bedsheets were wet and they too required changing.

“As no staff were readily available we used the person’s call alarm facility to summon assistance.”

It took a member of staff from another unit 18 minutes to attend to the man’s needs and another resident told inspectors they had once fallen asleep waiting for their bell to be answered.

Some staff said care could be rushed and they were unable to spend “quality” time talking and sitting with people, but the Care Quality Commission and residents praised staff for their “attentive” care and communication.

But inspectors found people’s views and experiences were not always taken into account.

The Care Quality Commission ordered the home to send a report by June 24 outlining action it will take to meet the standards.

CARE home management say the staff working at Elizabeth House provide “excellent” care.

Logan Nadarajah Logeswaran, managing director of Runwood Homes, which runs Elizabeth House, said action plans would be put in place and he always worked hard to make sure there were enough staff working.

He said: “Our care staff are trained and qualified individuals who provide excellent care within the home and we have our own bank of staff for cover as and when this is necessary.

“In situations where a staff member has suddenly gone off sick or had a personal emergency, the home manager will make every effort to find replacements for that shift, although there have been two isolated occasions when this was not possible and Care Quality Commission felt this was a ‘moderate impact’ to service users.

“In these circumstances, the home manager, regional care director or other members of the board of directors would always be on call for advice or assistance.

“Runwood Homes continually strives to improve standards within its homes, following guidance and advice from the Care Quality Commission, and action plans are put in place immediately following any inspection.”