A HELENSBURGH care home will need to improve staffing levels and medication record-keeping in a bid to boost their grade from the care inspectors.

Argyle Care Centre in West Argyle Street have had five requirements made by the Care Inspectorate following their latest inspection.

As previously reported in June last year, four complaints were raised with the Care Inspectorate about the care home in January that year, yet the service received a positive report from inspectors.

The complaints related to inadequate healthcare or treatment, communication between staff, service users and relatives, and the complaints procedure.

A year later, three unannounced inspections took place from July to August to check if the service at the care home has been maintained.

However, the care watchdog gave the facility an adequate scoring in all aspects of their evaluation from their staff team, setting, leadership and support for people's wellbeing.

The staff at the home were praised for their communication and relationships, but improvement needed to be made for the record-keeping of medication.

The report said: "Staff knew people's needs and their likes and dislikes well. This was achieved by staff having positive relationships with people, and good sharing of information between staff.

"The information shared at the handovers in the morning and evening was accurate and up to date. This included clinical information and also information on people's mental well being.

"We saw that people did receive their medication on time and in the correct dose. However, we noted that some records were completed but difficult to read due to being untidy."

Inspectors highlighted that there was an issue with staffing levels throughout their visits which took place at different times of the day.

It added: "We were present at different times of the day and evening, and we saw that staffing didn't always meet the requirements of people.

"Many people in the service need two staff to support them in areas of personal care or ensuring safe mobility.

"This means that staff can be off the floor while dealing with people's needs. In regular situations such as this it can often leave no staff available to care for or assist others who may need them."

The care watchdog have made five requirements, three of which need to be met by the end of next week.

By September 13 the care home needs to ensure that each person experiencing care has an effective personal plan in place, create an improvement plan for kitchen staff and storage of food items and make sure all health and safety checks have been carried out.

And then by November the facility must carry out a training analysis for staff and increase staffing levels.

Janice McCormack, care home manager told the Advertiser: "Since the recent inspection, the team have been working hard to address the points raised by the Care Inspectorate.

"A comprehensive action plan is in place, and we are confident that we will meet the requirements within the timescales."

The full inspection report can be viewed on the Care Inspectorate website.