A KIDDERMINSTER care home has been told to improve its safety, care and leadership following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.

Favor House, on Walter Nash Road East, received an overall ‘requires improvement’ rating after inspectors found shortfalls in the quality of people’s safety and care.

An 'inadequate' rating was given in the 'well-led' category, and a report said that "leaders, and the culture they created, did not assure the delivery of high-quality care".

According to the report, appropriate fire safety measures were not in place, which included a failure to ensure all fire doors were fitted with self-closing devices and kept closed.

It was found that not all staff at the home had received training on how to protect people from abuse, and concerns were not reported to relevant agencies.

Risk assessment and management plans had not been reviewed on a regular basis, the report said, and improvements were needed in the handling of people’s medicines.

The report said: “People's medicines were stored in locked drawers within the home's office, which felt warm.

“The provider did not have a system in place for monitoring the temperature of medicines storage, to ensure this did not exceed the recommended range.”

The care home also failed to notify the CQC about a change in management arrangements, and inspectors found staff member’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks had not always been renewed in line with the provider’s procedures.

However, the report also highlighted that “appropriate standards of hygiene and cleanliness were maintained throughout the home", and “people felt able to voice their opinions to staff and felt listened to".

Staff also recognised the need to respect and support people's day-to-day decision-making.

The report said: “People told us they liked living at Favor House, felt comfortable sharing their views with staff, and were listened to."

A spokesperson from the care home's provider, Endurance Care LTD, said: "We were very disappointed to receive a Requires Improvement’ CQC rating following an inspection at Favor House, part of the Endurance Care business. 

"We worked closely with both the CQC and the Local Authority to immediately rectify the areas highlighted by CQC as needing improvement. 

"We are very committed to providing the very best possible care for the individuals we support and ensuring that they achieve their goals and aspirations."

Favor House provides personal care for six people, and the unannounced inspection took place on Friday, March 22.