Care home set to close after damning inspection report
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A BUCKIE-area care home is to close its doors for the last time in May amid a damning report from the Care Inspectorate.
Lythe Care Home near Lintmill, Cullen, will shut by May 4 with the residents, believed to number just over 20, being moved to alternative accommodation in Moray and Aberdeenshire.
Alongside the news of the closure is a highly condemnatory report from the Care Inspectorate grading the care and support provided at the Lythe during the Covid pandemic as unsatisfactory, the lowest grading in the six-point assessment scale.
A spokeswoman from Lythe Care Home said: "It was with great sadness that on February 10, 2021 we announced the intended closure of Lythe Care Home.
"We have advised residents, families and local authorities of our intention to close by May 4, 2021.
"This last year has found us all in what can only be described as unprecedented and very difficult circumstances, and yet we are so incredibly proud to be able to say at this point that we have had no residents or staff who have tested positive for Covid -19. This has only been possible through the sacrifices that have been made by a loyal and dedicated staff team and by the fantastic support of our relatives.
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff, residents, relatives and the local community.
"We are supporting residents and relatives to identify new placements by working closely with Aberdeen Health and Social Care Partnerships and Moray Council."
Inspectors made an unannounced visit to Lythe on February 4, after which they issued the care home owners with a letter of concern. On their return four days later, it was deemed that insufficient progress had been made and an improvement notice was issued.
The document cites a long list of faults, ranging from a "lack of managerial oversight" of the service through to poor levels of infection control and cleanliness.
The report also painted a picture of inadequate staff training, which was often conducted "by observation" than through formal sessions.
Care staff were found by the inspectors to be "kind and caring" and "well-meaning" but the demands on their time meant that care was routine, "task-led and not person-centred. As a result, people did not always get the care and support that was right for them".
One resident told inspectors that there was nothing to do to pass the time, their day being broken up by "happenings" such as mealtimes and trips to the toilet.
According to the report staff said they were left "frustrated" and felt that they had insufficient time to do their jobs. This, they said, meant they "did not have time to spend with people".
It was also noted that staff were not readily available to deal with the needs of residents due to the fact they were busy attending to care needs elsewhere in the home.
Inspectors concluded that the criteria used to determine staffing levels at the home – namely the number of residents living there at any given time – were unsatisfactory
They added: "The staffing numbers had impacted on the quality of people's lives and contributed to poor outcomes.
"...There was a lack of managerial oversight of the service. This meant that staff practice was not monitored, clinical aspects of care and support were not monitored and outcomes for people were not used to inform any change or improvement."
Comments quoted by the inspectors painted a varied picture of life at the home.
One said: "The girls (staff) are lovely. They are kindly folk."
Another commented: "Find my day drags. There is little to do."
The full report can be viewed at https://www.careinspectorate.com/berengCareservices/html/reports/getPdfBlob.php?id=308637
