A CARE home has been told it ‘requires improvement’ after residents suffered significant weight loss due to staff failings.

Swarthdale Nursing Home, in Rake Lane, Ulverston was given the rating following two visits from Care Quality Commission inspectors on July 20 and August 1.

The care home – which provides accommodation, nursing and personal care to up to 43 people – was previously rated as ‘good’ following an inspection in June 2018.

A number of issues were identified during the most recent visit including staff failing to monitor residents which led to ‘significant unplanned weight loss’.

The report – published on the CQC website – states: “Some people were at risk of unplanned weight loss. The provider had not ensured people's weights were monitored to identify weight loss promptly. This had led to some people having significant weight loss which was a risk to their health and wellbeing.”

The report also raised concern over risks to residents’ safety which inspectors said had not been identified and managed.

The provider had not ensured effective oversight of the quality and safety of the service to ensure people were protected from harm, inspectors said.

The report also reveals that residents did not always receive effective care because their needs were not always promptly reassessed or monitored as they changed.

At the time of the inspection, the registered manager had been off due to long-term sickness and an interim manager had identified some areas where improvements were needed to the service.

The manager had developed an action plan to address identified issues and were already in the process of making improvements in some areas when they were inspected, according to the report.

“They had good systems to learn lessons when they identified issues and when things went wrong,” the report states.

“The manager took prompt action during and following our inspection to improve the safety of the service.

“The manager and staff were committed to providing people with person-centred care.

“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.”

Staff also told inspectors that they felt supported by the manager and said they were aware of improvements the manager was making and was planning to make.

A spokeswoman for Swarthdale Care Home said: “We would like to confirm that we have had a mini inspection from the CQC and our overall rating has been changed to requires improvements.

“The staff at Swarthdale are open and honest about our shortfalls and have worked closely with CQC to develop a realistic and achievable action plan.

“The team are working collaboratively to make the improvements that have been highlighted and we would like to reassure the residents’ families and members of the public that these improvements will be actioned and we are working very hard and closely with CQC to achieve a positive outcome and to change that rating back to a good.”