A Bolton care home has been slammed by inspectors for not making "sufficient improvements" since its last inspection.

A Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of Heaton House Care Home undertaken in June last year found that people’s medicines "were not always managed safely" and that safeguarding concerns were not always "responded to effectively" – with the home told it must improve.

Now, the Greenmount Lane care home has received a further visit from inspectors – who have again slammed the home, which remained in breach of the law.

In a report published this month, but based on an inspection undertaken in February, inspectors say they carried out the further inspection “in response to continued risks about the safety of the environment”.

Management at the care home was slammed for being too hands-off, with a deputy manager admitting that staff were not up to date with their training.

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Once on site, inspectors say that they found that “sufficient improvements had not been made” since the last inspection, with “continued breaches of regulations regarding medicines management, person-centred care, premises and equipment, good governance, staffing and fit and proper persons employed".

According to the report, medicines were not always managed safely, record keeping was not maintained, the premises and equipment were not safe, and residents were placed at risk of harm.

Incidents including medicine ending up in another resident’s dressing gown pocket were identified, while several incidents had not been reported to the CQC – such as a person leaving the care home through an open door, and three separate falls.

The care home also did not have a suitable plan for alternative accommodation in the case of an emergency – with the plan listing Ashcroft Housing Association in Rochdale as being a one minute walk away, though this is actually a one minute walk away from the provider’s other care home, Hurstead House Nursing Home.

Contrary to the inspector’s assessment, people living in the home told the CQC team that they felt safe and supported by the staff at the home, speaking highly of them.

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However, inspectors said there was no programme of weekly activities for people in the home to choose and activities were limited, which could lead to physical and cognitive decline and impact on people’s mood and mental health.

Uneven floor surfaces, raised thresholds, and loose cables were also identified as safety risks – with one person telling inspectors they had fallen over door thresholds and sustained injuries.

Inspectors also identified "unsafe fire doors", with other health and safety checks said to not be completed.

Care plans made for residents of the home were also said to contain contradictory information – such as one plan described as being immobile and cared for in bed, who was also described as having a "good physical ability" and able to walk short distances.

The care home was also unable to demonstrate the staff were up to date with safeguarding training, with the deputy manager telling inspectors: “Staff have not done anywhere near adequate training.

“As things stand, I can’t demonstrate staff are up to date with training.”

Leadership of the home was also criticised – with the home found to be in breach of good governance regulations.

The report said that the majority of staff felt the home was well-led due to a result of the deputy manager’s involvement and responsibility in the day-to-day running of the home, with the registered manager said to not be "hands on" in managing the home.

The full report is available on the CQC website.

A representative for the care home told The Bolton News it did not wish to comment.

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.