A care home in Watford which is not doing enough to prevent residents from falling has been told it needs to make improvements.

The inspection of Greenbanks had been prompted by concerns about “managing risk” to residents and how the home’s registered manager responded to concerns highlighted by staff.

An unannounced visit by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in September and October has led to the home dropping from "good" to "requires improvement" for being safe and well-led.

No evidence was found in the inspection that the 62 residents, which includes younger adults, people with sensory or physical disability and older people with dementia, were “at risk from harm” - but there was an “increased risk” and “limited assurance” about safety.

Inspectors found staff were trained and knew how to report any safeguarding concerns, however not all incidents were “thoroughly” investigated or reported to safeguarding authorities.

For example, some residents had unexplained bruises that had not been reported while it had become apparent that more falls were occurring during the morning.

However, the CQC report said the home was not “proactive” in preventing these falls and failed to redeploy staff to minimise the chance of morning falls.

In summary, when accidents or incidents occurred, risk assessments and care plans were not always “effectively reviewed” and learning needed “further developing and embedding” into daily practice.

The service management and leadership was also described as “inconsistent” by the CQC.

Responding to the inspection findings, care home provider Runwood Homes said: “We regret that Greenbanks has fallen below the standards that we, and the Care Quality Commission, expect in all areas when the home was inspected in September.

"The safety and wellbeing of our residents will always be our number one priority.

"We are pleased that the inspectors noted that everyone they spoke with praised the registered manager for being approachable and promoting a positive culture.

"The report also noted that people and relatives trusted the team and felt that residents were safe.

"All feedback we receive is taken seriously, and following the report, key actions have already been put in place to address the issues identified in the home."

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