A TRUST said it will work with a care regulator to find solutions to problems found during a recent inspection at its Hereford nursing home.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has released its findings following an inspection of Martha House – built by the Martha Trust on Old Eign Hill in 1996 – and said overall that it 'requires improvement'.

The house is nursing home, registered to provide accommodation for up to 14 people with complex learning disabilities.

While the CQC found the effectiveness, caring and responsiveness all 'good' at the home, problems were found relating to it being ‘well-led’ and ‘safe’.

One of the CQC’s key findings was that people did not always receive their medicines appropriately and that staff who administered medicines were not always trained to give them.

It meant people were at risk of receiving the wrong medicine or it not being appropriately administered, the report said.

However, inspectors found people were kept safe and free from harm because staff knew how to support them and report any allegations of abuse.

Relatives also said there were enough staff to keep people safe and provide support when it was needed.

Ahead of the inspection, the CQC said it received information of 'concern' regarding how the service was managed.

And it said those concerns matched what staff said during the inspection and that employees did not always feel able to raise concerns with the registered manager.

"We were not assured that people would be supported in a culture where staff felt comfortable to raise concerns about people’s care and support," the report said.

"Following our visit the provider told us that they would take steps to improve the openness and culture of the service."

Positive findings were that people were treated with dignity and respect and that staff were kind and caring.

People’s needs were responded to and if there were any concerns staff were quick to involve other professionals, the report said.

People were also supported by staff who knew them well enough to identify any concerns and relatives knew how to complain and felt that they were able to raise any concerns which would be listened to and responded to.

Following the publication of the report, Sue McBride, trust director, said: "While the trustees at Martha House are disappointed by the negative findings in the latest CQC report, we remain happy to continue to work together with the regulator to find solutions to these problems.

"The trustees are pleased that CQC were once again very happy with the quality of care provided to our residents, and on another positive note a further CQC inspection at Sophie House has found us compliant in all respects."

Martha House is one of two Martha Trust homes in Hereford.