A CARE home has been told it requires improvement following an inspection into its safety and management.

Oaklands Care Home, on Anick Road, Hexham, was told it requires improvement in the areas of being ‘safe’ and ‘well-led’ following a focused inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

The service, which supports up to 15 individuals with learning disabilities and complex needs, had received an overall requires improvement rating in October 2018, although it had been rated good for being caring and effective.

But after further concerns were raised, the CQC carried out the focused inspection in June this year.

The inspection report read: “Concerns were raised by staff in relation to inappropriate behaviour and some institutional practices by a small number of support staff at the service.”

Inspectors also highlighted that six people’s fire evacuation plans were out of date, there was no central record of exactly who was in the building at any time and not all staff had up to date medicine competency checks in place. However, the inspector wrote: “People told us they felt safe at the service and their relatives confirmed this.”

Meanwhile, the service also remained its rating of requires improvement in the category well-led. Inspectors noted that the staff culture needed development and that person-centred care was not always promoted.A spokesperson for Oaklands Care Home said: “Significant improvements have been made since the inspection, along with ongoing enhancements after the home was acquired by Cygnet from its previous operator.

“The report recognised the service as ‘good’ in the areas of being effective and caring and we have undertaken a comprehensive improvement programme. We have already deployed a new management team, undertaken extensive retraining and overseen a full review of care plans to ensure these are aligned with our high standards.”