'Increased' risk of harm at dementia service - watchdog

THERE WERE LAPSES IN RECORD-KEEPING BUT STAFF WERE PRAISED FOR KINDNESS AND COMPASSION

- By RUCSANDRA MOLDOVEANU

A WATCHDOG has found two breaches of legal regulations at a dementia care service and said people are at "increased" risk of harm.

Lloyds Care Group Ltd, on Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham, has been rated as "requires improvement" in its latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.

The care service provides support to people of any age, including those living with dementia in their own homes. On September 15, a warning notice was issued for failing to meet the regulation related to safe care and treatment and good governance.

The CQC report, published on Friday, revealed a string of issues that could put its 54 users at risk.

The first regulation breach identified by the CQC was in relation to safe care and treatment.

The report read: "At our last assessment, we rated this key question [safe] requires improvement. At this assessment, the rating has remained the same. This meant some aspects of the service were not always safe, and there was limited assurance about safety. There was an increased risk that people could be harmed."

The watchdog explained that paperwork and actions taken were not always completed or fully documented, and when incidents happened, followup actions did not show how future risks would be mitigated.

Staff members are, however, supported to learn lessons from incidents, the CQC said.

The provider also failed to ensure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people's needs, capacities, and preferences.