By Paul Behan

Copyright dailyrecord

A nursing home that was previously subject to a formal improvement notice by the Care Inspectorate has been placed under the microscope again. Ayrshire Live told in January how the Care Inspectorate was dissatisfied with progress at Fairknowe House on Cargill Road, Maybole. The care scrutiny body previously warned how the operator’s registration was at risk unless improvements were made. However, following a fresh follow-up inspection, which took place over four days in September, improvements are being made at the nursing home. The home has now been graded ‘adequate’ across four quality indicators and ‘good’ across one other. Among the key messages, people living at Fairknowe experienced “warm, respectful care” from staff who were consistently described as “kind, approachable, and attentive.” The home’s environment was “clean, comfortable, and welcoming,” with recent refurbishments and opportunities for residents to “influence décor and personal spaces.” The positives continued; medication, nutrition, and hydration were “well managed” and people had access to healthcare “when needed.” And staff felt supported and confident in their roles, although formal supervision and structured training planning were “not yet fully in place.” Leadership was also “committed to improvement,” with “regular audits” and a broad development plan. However, progress tracking and prioritisation “needed to be strengthened,” according to the report. With regards to staffing levels they were “generally sufficient” for care delivery, but “limited resources” affected the consistency of activities and opportunities for people to “engage with the wider community.” Personal plans included helpful detail, but some lacked “up-to-date information,” which could affect how well care was tailored to individual needs. Relatives also shared positive feedback about the care and atmosphere, while also “highlighting areas for improvement” such as staffing and activity provision. Fairknowe is registered to provide a care home service to a maximum of 40 older people who may have physical needs and/or dementia. At the time of inspection, 26 people were living in the care home. The service provider is Mead Medical Services Limited. An extract from the fresh report states: “People were treated with kindness and respect. Staff interactions were warm, relaxed, and person-centred. People’s preferences were respected. Personal plans included details about when individuals liked to get up, what they liked to wear, and how they preferred to be supported. Mealtimes were calm and well-managed, with people offered choices and alternatives. Staff supported people in a dignified and unhurried way.” But the report noted that there was a “clear lack” of structured activity provision. At the time of inspection, there was “no dedicated activity coordinator” in post. While staff made efforts to engage people in informal activities, such as pampering and board games, these were “inconsistent” and “dependent on staffing levels.” The report continues: “Several residents and relatives expressed concern about the limited stimulation and lack of opportunities to go out. “The manager acknowledged that activity provision was minimal and that outings were not feasible with current staffing arrangements. The lack of contingency planning meant that people missed out on meaningful engagement and connection with the wider community.” In the qualtiy indicator relating to setting, the care home was graded ‘good.’ Planned care and support, supporting people’s wellbeing, leadership and staff team were all graded as ‘adequate.’ The report also notes how several previous requirements that related to areas of improvement had been met, while others have been ‘continued.