A DAMNING report has found the level of care provided by a Saltcoats home for the elderly 'unsatisfactory’.

Arran View Care Home in Burns Avenue was subject to an unannounced inspection by social care watchdogs the Care Inspectorate in June.

The inspection report published this week reveals a raft of deficiencies in the quality of the service delivered by the BUPA-owned home including a grading of ‘unsatisfactory’ for the provision of care and support.

The home’s environment, staffing, and management and leadership were all ranked as ‘weak’.

The report concludes that some of the deficiencies arose from staffing issues.

Not being able recruit and retain registered nurses and having to use agency staff and staff from other homes to fill gaps are cited as ‘unresolved problems’ which should be addressed urgently by recruiting more permanent nurses.

Comments from residents underlined the staffing issues. One said: “I think it is a hard job.

"They are understaffed.

"I think they should get more time off.

“There have been new people all the time.

"There are ones that are always here and some that come to help.

"There is quite a large core who are always here.” The relative of one of the service users commented: “It is good but there is not enough staff.

"They all work hard.

"They do a good job but there is not enough staff.

"There are times when two or three residents need help at the same time and they struggle.” Responses to a Care Inspectorate questionnaire distributed to the home’s staff were equally scathing.

One said staffing levels on night duty in the Lochranza unit were ‘shocking’ and expressed concern about agency nurses not knowing the residents.

They said that it was often midnight and at times after 2am before some residents were getting to bed and also expressed concern about the need to leave the lounge unattended and not having appropriate continence aids.

Another said they needed more moving and handling equipment and more staff when the unit is full.

The report also reveals that three complaints made to the Care Inspectorate this year about staffing levels and the fitness of the home were upheld.

A total of 11 complaints have been upheld about the home since May 2013.

However, the report also states that staff met during the inspection ‘presented as hardworking and motivated to deliver good quality care’ and ‘overall, service users and relatives remain happy with their care at Arran View’.

The home is now required to submit an action plan to the Care Inspectorate outlining how it will improve its service delivery and follow the report’s recommendations.

A spokesperson for BUPA Care said: “We were disappointed by the report from the Care Inspectorate’s visit in June and have acted to address the issues raised, including providing extra training for our people and more support for medication management.

“We have also recruited more nurses and are confident that the home is providing good care for residents.

“We have had many positive comments from residents and relatives about the home, and look forward to the inspectors coming back.”