A NEWLY registered care service has been told it must improve after its first inspection from healthcare watchdogs.

The CQC inspected Crossfields Lodge in Halstead on three occasions before publishing the inspection.

Crossfields Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care, support to people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

The report said although it is registered for up to two people, the provider had decided for the foreseeable future, to just accommodate the current person using the service.

Whilst the report rated the service’s responsiveness and care as good, it said its safety, effectiveness and leadership requires improvement.

Regarding safety, inspectors said: “Not all staff demonstrated they were competent in identifying, monitoring and effectively dealing with risk. This had impacted on the person's safety and welfare.

“Staff had received training in supporting the person safely. However, records viewed, and feedback from professionals and the person's relative, identified not all staff were confident and competent to put the training into practise. This put the person at risk.

“Although staff had received training in completing incident forms, we found where staff had failed to record accurately.”

Inspectors also looked at whether the service was well-led.

The report said: “The majority of staff demonstrated the provider's values of putting the person's welfare first.

“Although supervision, training and competency checks were in place, improvements were needed in monitoring staff's practise.

However, the report also detailed work which has already begun to improve the service.

It said: “Following the inspection, the provider arranged for refresher training for staff, which included guidance on completing incident records.

“The provider following their own investigations and concerns raised by professionals had acted during the inspection.

“This included refresher training for staff, changes to the staff team, and ensuring the right mix of experienced and less experienced staff on each.

“The systems put in place needed to be embedded, to ensure staff were continually providing quality, safe care.”

Meadowview Care Ltd, who run Crossfields Lodge, was contacted for comment.