Case Study
Addressing medication concerns and rebuilding crucial relationships
Without a manager, your home just won’t run well. Perhaps they’ve left – or maybe they didn’t meet your expectations and you had to let them go. There’ll be no-one to properly oversee junior staff, so standards will probably fall. It may get so bad that residents will come to harm and your CQC rating may suffer.
We were approached by a care home who had previously raised a safeguarding concern and as the issues progressed, Fulcrum placed an interim manager in the home to provide ongoing support to the staff team and residents.
What issue did the care home have?
The care home had previously raised a safeguarding concern due to an unsafe discharge process. Unfortunately, the issue escalated when nurses continued to administer medication that should have been discontinued, which posed a significant risk to the residents’ wellbeing and compromised the quality of care they were receiving.
Upon the second discharge from the hospital, a Fulcrum interim manager was appointed to assess the situation. It was discovered, along with a visiting pharmacist, that the hospital had once again sent incorrect information regarding the use of certain medication. This miscommunication further complicated the administration process and jeopardised the residents’ safety.
The care home experienced strained relationships with both the Local Authority (LA) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This breakdown in communication hindered the home’s ability to effectively address and resolve the issues it was facing. Additionally, governance systems were deemed ineffective, and there was a lack of evidence for robust medication audits.
How did Fulcrum Care help?
Fulcrum’s in-home management can bring about positive changes. Our experienced managers know how to run an outstanding care home and they will make sure a home benefits from their knowledge. They aim to raise standards, improve procedures and embed new systems. In this instance, Fulcrum’s interim manager took immediate action to rectify the medication issues. They meticulously checked all prescriptions, working closely with the nursing team to ensure that the correct medication was administered.
The interim manager also actively engaged with the LA and the CQC to rebuild relationships. They attended safeguarding meetings when required and fostered open and transparent communication channels, helping the home to regain trust with the regulatory bodies.
Recognising the importance of staff training, Fulcrum prioritised improving the skills and knowledge of the care home staff within the home. Through targeted training programs, staff received the necessary education to perform their roles effectively and deliver quality care to the residents.
What were the results for the care home?
Following Fulcrum Care’s intervention, medication administration at the care home significantly improved. The visiting pharmacist verified that all medications were correctly administered, and the risk of medication errors was effectively mitigated.
The care home established an open and transparent relationship with the LA and the CQC, allowing for collaborative efforts in addressing any current and future concerns and implementing necessary improvements. The care home received positive feedback from the regulatory bodies regarding the detailed audits and analysis now in place.
The care home now conducts thorough medication audits and takes appropriate actions to address any identified issues. Whilst the service improvement plan provides a clear roadmap for ongoing enhancements to the care home’s operations.
If your care home needs help from a team of dedicated care experts, please get in touch.