Normanshire Care Services' CQC rating now 'good'

Normanshire Care Services in Normanshire Drive, Chingford, was placed in special measures by the CQC after an inspection in August 2019.

Inspectors had deemed the home ‘inadequate’ due to severe understaffing, staff hired without proper background checks and a resident with bruises and scratches.

Read more: Chingford care home rated inadequate inspected after whistleblower report

Following an inspection in May, however, the home’s rating improved from the lowest possible to the second highest ‘good’ rating.

The improvement comes after a change in leadership, including a new manager who joined a few months earlier in March.

Inspectors wrote that staff “are now familiar with residents' likes and dislikes” and “people are treated with dignity and respect”.

Their report continues: “A staff member told us staffing levels had improved recently. In the past the service was very short staffed, they now have staff providing cover for breaks.

“Another staff member said: ‘Yes, I feel there are enough staff to meet people’s needs.'"

All staff working at the centre now have background checks carried out before they start, records show, whereas previously a staff member was hired without a criminal record check or even a completed application form.

Read more: Understaffed Chingford care home hired employee without criminal record check or application form

Despite this, the home still requires improvement in terms of effectiveness, with one resident lacking a full and adequate needs assessment

The inspector noted: “The needs assessment completed by the service was vague and lacked important detail about the person’s behaviours that may challenge the service, putting them and other people already living there at risk of harm.”