Bolton: Withins Limited inspection 'requires improvement'

Withins Limited in Breightmet was inspected in March of this year on three occasions.

It was rated as ‘requires improvement’ on whether it was safe and well-led.

The report states that “medicines were not always managed safely” and that documents relating to medicines were not always “complete and accurate”.

It reads: “The provider was not always ensuring risks were assessed and mitigated effectively and medicines were not always managed safely.

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“Documents with regard to medicines were not always complete and accurate.

“Audits in place were not always robust enough to identify and address the issues found during the inspection with the safe management of medicines.

“We have made a recommendation about medicines audits.”

The service was also rated as ‘requires improvement’ in May 2022 during its last CQC inspection following legal breaches, but an action plan was set up following this.

On a positive note the report found that staff “placed people's wishes, needs, and rights at the heart of everything they did.”

It said: “People's quality of life was enhanced by the service's culture of improvement and inclusivity.

“Staff knew and understood people well and were responsive, supporting their aspirations to live a quality life of their choosing.

“Staff turnover was very low, which supported people to receive consistent care from staff who knew them well.”

The director of the provider Samuel Shahbazi says that he does not agree with the “overall rating” but says that they have expanded their audits slightly when it comes to medication and implemented some safety changes since the last inspection in 2022.

A statement said: “The team at Withins Residential Home is a long established one committed to providing a great experience of care home life and prioritising the safety of our residents.

“Our recent inspection captured elements of the outstanding care we provide to our residents and their family - and our willingness to go the 'extra mile' in respect of activities, cleanliness, and end of life care.

“The way that medications are inspected by CQC is changing however and the expectations are much higher.

“Despite completing regular and rigorous medication audits CQC have asked that we expand these audits slightly - which we have.

“Since our inspection in 2022 we have implemented and embedded all advice from CQC in the interest of resident safety.

“Overall, I don't agree with our awarded rating and I'm certain many of our residents and their family don't either.

“I lead a team of kind, committed and caring people who deserve a rating that reflects the work we do and how it impacts our residents and their family.”

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