A WEST Devon care home has made adequate improvements to bring itself out of ‘special measures’ according to a recent inspection report.

Venn House in Lamerton was put into ‘special measures’ after it received an inadequate rating from the Care Quality Commission in November 2017. The owners of the home took immediate action to try to rectify the issues raised and instructed a consultancy firm to help oversee and implement the improvements.

After its most recent inspection in May, the CQC has now taken it out of ‘special measures’ and given it an overall rating of ‘requires improvement’. The inspector found Venn House to be ‘good’ in three areas and ‘requiring improvement’ in two areas.

The inspector stated: ‘This service has been in special measures. Services that are in special measures are kept under review and inspected again within six months. We expect services to make significant improvements within this timeframe. During this inspection the service demonstrated to us that improvements have been made and is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is now out of special measures.’

The report asks five main questions from the inspection: Is the service safe? Is the service effective? Is the service caring? Is the service responsive? Is the service well-led?

The inspector deemed the care home to be ‘good’ in effectiveness, stating that action had been taken to improve the application of the Mental Capacity Act and staff training and support, people’s legal rights were better protected and their health needs well managed and a new training programme had been implemented.

It was deemed ‘good’ in caring, stating that action had been taken to improve the care people received, the inspection received only positive views from people and relatives and staff relationships with people were caring and supportive.

It was also deemed ‘good’ in responsiveness, stating that action had been taken to improve people’s care and complaints handling, complaints were being managed appropriately and the service was actively trying to recruit an activities worker.

Although good progress had been made by the care home, the inspector deemed it ‘requiring improvement’ in safety, stating that action had been taken to improve safety with the service continuing to actively recruit new staff, medicines management had improved and infection control was taken seriously but this domain still required improvement.

Also requiring improvement was the leadership of the service. The report stated that action had been taken to improve the governance, quality assurance and leadership, but this needed to be embedded and sustained, the provider had implemented quality monitoring arrangements which were ensuring the safe running of the service and staff views were sought and taken into account to influence how the service was run.

The inspector stated: ‘There had been improvements at the service, although the provider and management team recognised further work was needed to embed the new quality assurance systems they had put in place.’

The team at Venn House said they were ‘delighted’ to have such a positive report evidenced about the home and planned to exert every effort to ensure standards were maximised and maintained. Venn House is likely to be re-inspected within the next 12 months and the team is hopeful that the service at that point will be rated as ‘good’.

Dr Victoria Evans, whose father is a resident at Venn House, said: ‘My father has been in Venn House long term since November 2017. In all that time he has been cared for with dignity, patience and sensitive care. The staff know him, they are full of suggestions and we are always informed of any change of condition. I really haven’t been able to fault his care.’

The owners Mr and Mrs Widders said they were delighted with the positive outcome achieved in such a short time and expressed thanks to all their staff, consultants Cornerstone Care and the local authority, who had all been very supportive.