Mill View Care Home

Mill View Care Home is a large residential and nursing care facility that can accommodate up to 180 people across six units, with five currently in use. This report summarises an inspection that focused on the safety and leadership of the home, prompted by concerns about an increase in safeguarding referrals. The inspection found areas where improvements are needed, particularly regarding medication management and governance processes. Residents generally feel safe and speak positively about the care received, though staff are often very busy.

Regarding safety, while residents feel secure and staff are trained in safeguarding, there were notable issues with medication management. Inspectors found that medicines were not always administered as prescribed, were sometimes unavailable when needed, and stock records did not always match electronic records. Recording of thickened fluids also lacked consistency. Although no residents had been harmed, these practices highlighted a gap in robust record-keeping and oversight.

In terms of effectiveness, the report indicates that while care plans are in place and risk assessments are used to guide staff, the overall effectiveness of care delivery is impacted by staffing pressures. Staff reported not having enough time to complete all their responsibilities, including facilitating activities, which led to a lack of stimulation for residents.

The care provided at Mill View is generally viewed positively by residents and their families, who describe staff as kind and caring. There are efforts to involve people in their care, with regular meetings and surveys. However, feedback from these engagement activities was not consistently shared back with residents and their families, meaning they were unaware of any resulting actions.

Responsiveness at the home is mixed. While residents feel safe and their needs are generally met, the busy nature of staff means activities are limited, and residents expressed a desire for more engagement. Safeguarding concerns are reported and managed appropriately, and the home maintains good infection control practices.

Concerningly, the leadership and management of the home were found to be inconsistent. Although audits and monitoring processes are in place, they had not consistently identified significant issues, such as the problems with medication management or the lack of activities. The service improvement plan contained many actions prompted by external feedback rather than internal identification, suggesting a need for a more effective quality assurance process. While the home is generally open and honest, improving the feedback loop to residents and relatives about actions taken from their suggestions is also recommended.