Larkhill Hall

Updated 24 June 2024

Larkhill Hall is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 66 people. The service provides care to older people including those living with dementia. At our last inspection this service was rated requires improvement. We initiated this assessment on 6 August 2024. The assessment was prompted by a review of information we held about the service since the last inspection and to follow up a warning notice we issued as part of our enforcement process. Following this assessment the service remains requires improvement. We identified some improved practice around staffing, learning culture and management oversight. Staff told us they felt the home had improved since the last inspection, and people we spoke with told us they felt safe. However we found concerns around the management of people's medicines and some people's risk assessments which resulted in the service remaining in breach of safe care and treatment. Governance systems had improved and the provider was working towards a detailed action plan. The service needed time to demonstrate that improvements had become embedded over time.

Updated 24 June 2024

People told us they felt happy and safe living at Larkhill Hall. Comments included "I feel safe. I haven't had any problems. I am okay and it is nice here." Also "I feel safe. I would speak with someone from the staff if I didn't." People did not raise any issues or concerns around their medicines, however medication processes and procedures were not robust and needed to be improved. People told us they felt the home was clean and tidy, 1 person said "My room is always clean, just look at it, the way the bed is made up for me." Another person said "It is always clean and tidy. Staff work hard. I have never seen the light bulbs go out and if anything breaks and they fix it." People generally felt staff were knowledgeable regarding their needs. However, some care risk assessments we viewed required more information in order to keep people safe. The manager acted straight away when this was fed back during inspection. We observed staff supporting people safely. People generally told us there was enough staff. Comments included, "I think there are enough staff. If I need anything I just shout and someone comes." Also, "Sometimes they are short of staff but it is unusual for that to happen. Even when they are short staffed they ask me for my choice of meals." One relative we spoke with said they felt disengagement with some of the agency staff.