Northampton care home accepts more improvements are needed after critical inspection

A Northampton care home in special measures admitted work still needs to be done but was pleased to have seen some improvements in its latest inspection.

The Leys Care Home has gone from being rated 'inadequate' after the last two Care Quality Commission (CQC) visits to 'requires improvement' in a report published this week.

Inspectors found paperwork and medicine management issues during the visit on January 13, and the Boothville nursing home will stay in special measures.

A care home spokesperson said: "They have acknowledged the improvements we have made but we have got further improvements to make.

"The home remains covid-free and the staff are doing a fantastic job to keep covid out but we're working with the CQC to make those improvements.

"It's a positive step from last time but keeping covid out is a massive thing so credit to the staff, they are working tirelessly.

"We have got a long way to go, we're not denying that, but we're confident we can take this even further."

The CQC visit last month on only focused on two areas that were flagged during the last inspection in July: safety and leadership.

Most issues related to documentation not being completed properly but concerns about hydration monitoring had been addressed by staff, who were caring for 14 people at the time.

But inspectors said residents received their medicines by trained staff, who were safely recruited, appropriately trained and who knew them well.

Although the care home is no longer rated 'inadequate' overall, it will stay in special measures, which it has been in since March, until all sub-areas have sufficiently improved.

The CQC will keep the service under review and, if it does not propose to cancel the provider's registration, it will re-inspect within six months to check for significant improvements.