THE CARE Quality Commission (CQC) has declared that Salt Hill Care Centre ‘requires improvement’ in its most recent report.

Salt Hill Care Centre, in Bath Road, Slough, cares for elderly people suffering from dementia, learning difficulties, physical disabilities and mental health conditions. In the last report in February 2016, the service was rated ‘good’ in all categories except the facility’s leadership, which was rated as ‘requires improvement’.

In the most recent data taken in May and published last month, however, the facility was rated as ‘requires improvement’ in every category.

The Commission found that a recent fire risk assessment of the facility had identified 25 ‘significant findings’, some of which required ‘immediate attention’ Some staff members were found to have not been fully trained, and that “people received care from staff who were not competently trained to meet their care needs”. The CQC cited an example of a resident with dementia who was found to be rolling around on the floor of the communal area. It said: “On more than one occasion, staff were in direct line of sight and either kept doing other tasks or walked past the person, completely ignoring them.” The CQC also claimed it witnessed residents being served cold porridge.

Salt Hill Care Centre manager, Mulkraj Ram, has recently opened a second facility, Windsor Care Centre in Burlington Avenue, Slough, and manages both. The CQC said it was “not feasible” that one person could effectively manage both facilities without deputy managers, who had not been recruited at the time of the inspection.

A spokeswoman for Slough Borough Council said: “Since the inspection we have worked alongside the service provider to agree a service improvement plan, much of which has already been completed.”

Mr Ram said: “We have met all the requirements, and put an action plan together. Slough Council has checked it, and is happy with the improvements. All the requirements have been completed.”