Eastry House

This report summarises the findings of a recent inspection at Eastry House, a care home for individuals with learning disabilities. The inspection focused on how safe and well-led the service is. While residents reported being very happy and feeling safe, the inspection identified areas where the provider needs to improve management oversight and ensure that past issues are addressed. The report details specific findings across key areas to help families understand the service’s current performance.

On safety, residents generally felt safe and were well-supported with their specific risks, such as mobility needs and medication. However, the inspection found that not all accidents and incidents were consistently logged and analysed, meaning potential trends could be missed. Infection control practices also required improvement, with some areas of the building needing refurbishment to ensure thorough cleaning, and staff were not always following the latest government guidance on personal protective equipment.

In terms of how effective the care is, the report notes that residents receive the medicines they require and risks are identified. There's good information for staff regarding individual needs like diabetes management. The service also ensures personalised evacuation plans are in place for fire safety.

Regarding how caring the service is, people living at Eastry House expressed high satisfaction with the staff, describing them as kind and attentive. There’s an observable, close relationship between staff and residents, contributing to a happy environment. Residents feel involved and listened to, with their opinions valued.

Concerning how responsive the service is, residents and staff feel they are involved in decisions about the home and their care. Staff meetings address important topics, and residents’ suggestions, such as for home improvements, are acted upon. The manager is actively seeking further training for staff to better meet residents’ needs.

Finally, on how well-led the service is, the report indicates that while the current registered manager has made positive inroads since December 2020, there's a lack of consistent management oversight from the provider. Internal audits have not always identified issues like untidy medication rooms or inadequate analysis of incidents. While a duty of candour protocol is in place and families are informed of medication errors, the provider needs to ensure a more robust system for quality monitoring across their services.