‘Low staff morale’ affecting care at Woodford Green nursing home

Harts House Nursing Home in Harts Grove, Woodford Green, was rated as requiring improvement by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

A report published by the CQC following a surprise inspection said care records were not always up to date and accurate and the service was “not always well led” at the Bupa home.

Inspectors found the manager had been on authorised absence for more than eight weeks, with a regional manager filling in.

The report said: “Staff were not always supported by means of regular appraisals and relevant training such as the mental capacity training.

“People and staff told us that the management was not always visible, staff morale was low and was impacting on the quality of care delivered.”

Despite concerns over unresolved pay issues, lack of staff and meetings – with employees saying they felt “demotivated and unacknowledged” – the inspection found residents were happy.

The report said an activities calendar included board games, coffee mornings, sherry mornings and knitting clubs.

“We observed people go to down to the lounge to have the daily morning sherry,” said the report.

“One person said, ‘it’s the highlight of my day.’”

The inspection, which took place on November 9 last year, followed a previous inspection in January last year.

Following the first inspection, the CQC had ordered the home to improve how it supported staff.

But while in November it found some improvements had been made, inspectors said the home was still in breach of the regulation.

A spokeswoman for the home said: “We are pleased that the CQC’s inspection in November found the home to be safe and our residents well cared for and enjoying a range of stimulating activities.

“The CQC identified areas where we need to make changes to our record keeping and staff training, and we are committed to making all the required improvements and meeting the standards.

“The health and wellbeing of residents is our top priority.”