A care home in Wisbech has been told it “requires improvement” following a Care Quality Commission inspection.

Lyncroft Care Home, of Clarkson Avenue, which has 35 residents, was praised for its “caring and friendly” atmosphere, but inspectors found prescribed medication was not available for residents at all times.

The care people needed was not always clearly described in their care plans, so there was a risk staff would not know how to care for them appropriately, inspectors said.

Residents were provided with adequate food and drink, but not always in a “timely” way, and the systems to monitor the quality of service people received were “not effective”.

The report said: “Medicines were managed safely and staff were appropriately trained but the system for ordering medication needed to be improved to ensure that prescribed medication was available at all times.

“The arrangements for managing medication were not reliable. We found that there was not a sufficient supply of medication for one person as a medication was not available to them.

“The senior carer had noted this on the morning of our inspection and had put in an emergency prescription.

“In the meantime the person was offered pain relief from the homely remedies but the person declined this offer as it was not the form they preferred to take their medicine in.”

There was a positive relationship between residents and staff, inspectors noted.

The report said: “Staff treated people in a way that people preferred. Staffing levels were adequate to meet the needs of people who used the service to ensure that they received care and support when they needed it.

“Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity and asked for their consent before providing personal care. Relatives

were very happy with the care provided to their family member.

“Throughout our inspection there was a caring and friendly atmosphere in the home. People looked comfortable with the staff that supported them.

“We saw that people chatted and socialised with each other and staff and there were lots of laughter and chatter happening throughout the home.”