A CARE home in Compton has been told that it ‘requires improvement’ due to concerns of safety and record keeping in a recent inspection.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected Compton House, part of the Choice Care group, and found that it had problems with management and safety and hasn't made enough progress since the last inspection.

Despite this, the report said that residents were happy while relatives trusted they were safe. The care body also said appropriate systems were in place to protect people from abuse and staff confirmed they were confident in taking the appropriate action if they had any concerns.

The report, published on November 23, said: “Quality assurance processes were not always effective. While the registered manager was responsive and took action to address concerns when highlighted, we were concerned the provider's systems and processes were not sufficiently robust.

“The provider had not always sufficiently investigated incidents to prevent reoccurrences. The provider had not ensured records relating to the management of the home had always been completed or were accurate.

“The registered manager and provider responded immediately during and after the inspection. The registered manager developed an action plan with realistic timescales to address the shortfalls identified."

READ MORE: Embley has achieved excellent during independent inspection

Issues with staffing were also identified: "The failure of the provider to obtain a full employment history of staff is a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The care body inspected the out-of-hours service unannounced in response to concerns about unsafe staffing levels.

The report read: "We observed safe staffing levels and staff appeared unhurried and available to meet people's support needs.

"However, there was a reliance on agency staff and during the inspection. Some newer agency staff were not as familiar with people or the service.

"The provider was open about the challenges of recruitment and shared the initiatives they had implemented to recruit more staff."

Comments from relatives within the report included: "They seem to have enough staff now" and "There has been a change of staff in the recent past and they do use agency staff. One member of agency staff was particularly helpful."

The report concluded: “We have identified a breach in relation to recruitment of staff and a continued breach in relation to governance at this inspection.”

The CQC has requested an action plan from Compton House on how it will improve the standards of quality and safety and the care inspectors will continue to monitor progress.

The last rating for the service, published in April 2022, was also ‘requires improvement’. The recent inspection found not enough progress had been made.

SEE ALSO: Winchester High Street: plans for flats at shops site

No one from Compton House was available to speak to the Chronicle directly but Choice Care released the following statement: “We acknowledge the findings of the recent CQC report on Compton House and accept the need for improvements to the service.

“We care very much about providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led services to the people we support. We are very sorry that our support did not meet these standards on this occasion.

“The service is already making a number of positive changes and will be working with the CQC to implement and oversee these improvements.”

Compton House, in Otterbourne Road, currently supports 11 residents who live with learning disabilities, down's syndrome, Schizoaffective disorder and autism.

To view the report go to cqc.org.uk/location/1-2151566171?referer=widget3.