Walter & Joan Gray (Care Home)

1. To keep people safe, the provider should ensure protocols for use of 'as and when' (PRN) medication are accurate and sufficiently detailed. Protocols should include, at a minimum, details of what the medication is used for, when it should be used, and any measures that should be taken prior to using the medication. The effect of the medication should be recorded each time it is used. This information should be available for health professionals to review, if necessary. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: ‘I experience high quality care and support based on relevant evidence, guidance and best practice’ (HSCS4.11).

2. To keep people safe, the provider should ensure people have access to nutritious food that is safely prepared and meets their nutritional needs. Information about people's nutritional needs and preferences should be kept up to date and shared with the kitchen and all staff, who support people with eating and drinking. Staff should undertake sufficient and appropriate training for their role, including awareness and understanding of modified meals in accordance with the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative framework (IDDSI). This is to ensure that care and support is in line with Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state “My meals and snacks meet my cultural and dietary needs, beliefs and preferences" (HSCS 1.37).

1. To ensure people are supported by sufficient numbers of staff with the right skills and knowledge, the provider should implement a clear system for assessing staffing needs. This should take into account, at a minimum, people's care and support needs, the layout of the building, staff breaks, training time and other duties, and should recognise when higher levels of support are required at peak times of the day. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS), which state: ‘My needs are met by the right number of people’ (HSCS 3.15)