THREE Bradford care homes – including two run by the council – have been told they must improve by the health watchdog.

Norman Lodge, in Glenroyd Avenue, Odsal, and Wagtail Close, Westwood Park, which both come under the authority of Bradford Council, were given the ‘requires improvement’ rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Walmer Lodge Residential Home, Walmer Villas, Manningham, has also been ordered to improve.

The CQC visited Norman Lodge twice in January and February this year. The home was told to improve following a visit in August 2016, where breaches relating to the need for consent, safe care and treatment, good governance and staffing were identified.

Inspectors said the latest visits revealed further improvements were needed in terms of good governance.

They said while the visit found the home was meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, the documentation could be improved.

The report says: “It was noted not all care plans had been recently reviewed and some also contained out-of-date documentation.”

It also points out that quality assurance monitoring systems were not “sufficiently robust” and some audits were not in place.

While the home received the overall rating of requires improvement, it was judged as good in markers relating to how safe and caring it is.

Following their visit, inspectors said people were treated with kindness and compassion and the home was clean and well maintained.

Wagtail Close, which provides a domiciliary care agency and a care home, was visited in February and March and was branded ‘requires improvement’ in every area.

Inspectors said: “Improvements were required to the recording of people’s finances to ensure people were not at risk of financial abuse. Although actions were taken following our inspection we were concerned audits in place had not highlighted these concerns and actions taken sooner.”

They said while residents told them permanent staff knew their care and support, concerns were expressed about the

skills of agency and non-permanent staff.

According to the report, care records did not always accurately reflect current needs and people did not always feel their views about the quality of the service were sought, or that action was taken, as a result of their views.

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Inspectors also said the home was still in breach of legal requirements relating to good governance following a previous inspection in December 2016.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We continue to work closely with CQC, colleagues and service users to improve outcomes and achieve a good rating.”

Walmer Lodge was rated requires improvement in all but one area, with concerns raised about safeguarding reporting procedures, staff training and systems for checking the quality and safety of services.

However, the home was judged to be good in the ‘is the service caring?’ marker.

A spokesperson for Walmer Lodge said the home was “disappointed” with the findings, but management had taken measures and a plan was in place to deal with the concerns raised by the CQC.

He said he hoped the home would be fully compliant by the end of May.