Regulator raises more concerns over care quality at Four Seasons care home

Four Seasons’ Banks O’Dee care home in Aberdeen has been rated ‘weak’ in all categories by the Care Inspectorate.

The service was given the second lowest score on the 1 to 6 point rating system following an inspection in September. Previously, “significant weaknesses” at the service were highlighted following an inspection in June (see “Significant weaknesses” found at Four Seasons care home).

In its latest inspection, the regulator found evidence that people were urinating in a corridor.

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Staff morale was described as “poor” with one resident commenting on a “culture of disrespect” towards senior staff and a “negative culture” having an impact on people being cared for.

The Care Inspectorate saw a limited number of staff who knew residents well and interacted with kindness, compassion and warmth.

A Four Seasons spokesperson said: “We take our responsibilities as a care provider very seriously and we are sorry that Banks O’ Dee has fallen below the standards that we expect all of our homes to provide.”

The provider said it had made it a priority to improve the service and day to day experience of residents following the inspection and had been working closely with the Care Inspectorate and Aberdeen City Council on progress made.

Four Seasons noted the home’s reliance on agency staff, which had been enforced because of difficulties in recruiting staff and said every effort was made to use the same people to encourage familiarity with the people being cared for. The provider said it had an active recruitment programme and had reviewed and adjusted how staff were deployed.

Four Seasons said care plans and records had been reviewed and adjusted to ensure they were up to date and reflected individual needs and wishes, adding it was supporting staff with enhanced and refresher training.

The provider added that the ground floor of the service had been cleaned and redecorated, with further refurbishment plans in place.