Council takes action after Clyde Court Care Home slated by inspector

A Clydebank care home has had its funding cut after it was slated by inspectors. Clyde Court Care Home was judged as ‘weak’ by the Care Commission Scotland (CCS) in terms of quality of care and support and also in terms of quality of management and leadership.

It was graded as ‘adequate’ for the quality of the environment and the quality of staffing.

Problems highlighted included concerns about administering medication and staff training.

The nursing home, just off Kilbowie Road, is independent but receives a subsidy from West Dunbartonshire Council, which has now been reduced because of the bad report.

There were three particularly worrying issues in the report which the home is now legally bound to rectify.

The urgent requirements are that medication must be administered in line with doctor’s instructions and product information, staff must be properly trained for the work they are carrying out and care plans for residents must be people centred and promote an ethos of independence.

The Care Commission sent a lay assessor, who has experience of using care services, to gather views on the home during an unannounced visit.

Some comments from residents and their relatives were positive but there were many concerns.

One relative said of the food on offer: “Everything’s cheap and out of a packet. Never varies.

“Always vegetable lasagne, vegetable burgers. No meat in it.”

Residents had complaints about the entertainment on offer, saying the home was boring, but many relatives felt there were lots of meetings and good intentions on the part of staff but “nothing changes”.

The lay assessor’s own observations included a resident having to wait 40 minutes before going to the toilet, a man not being allowed to go downstairs until visitors asked, a smell of urine on one of the floors, bibs being in bad condition, cumbersome drinking beakers, and residents sitting in the dining room for 20 minutes before eating and 30 minutes afterwards.

A spokeswoman for Clyde Court Care Home said: “Management at the home is working closely with the Care Commission and social services.

“A comprehensive action and improvement plan has been implemented in order to address any concerns raised and to continue to provide a high level of care for all residents at the home.”

A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council said: “West Dunbartonshire Council has made a reduction in funding to Clyde Court Care Home due to the results of low grades in the assessment by the Care Commission.

“The council will work closely with the provider to support their efforts to improve standards.

“West Dunbartonshire Council is committed to supporting all providers to achieve the best standards of care possible.”