An Isle of Wight care home has been served a damning one-star food hygiene rating after inspectors raised concerns about re-heating and defrosting food and staff training.
It means ‘major improvement’ is necessary at Blackwater Mill Residential Home after an Isle of Wight council environmental health inspection in May.
Dropped from five-star rating
The authority dropped the facility from its previous five-star hygiene rating.
The Buckland Care home has said ‘swift action’ has been taken to address concerns including appointing new staff.
Issues found
Officers found food was not being reheated to the right temperature, there was ‘no safe system of stock rotation and control’ and the temperature probe was not being sanitised between each measurement.
There was also no evidence to suggest staff had any food hygiene training, as they lacked an appropriate level of knowledge and understanding of policies and procedures.
Use-by date of lamb extended
The inspector witnessed lamb cooking and cooling and a correct use-by date of two days was added. It was then reheated on a later day and a new date label was added, extending the use-by date by three days, which was ‘concerning’.
The lamb was removed during the visit.
Other issues
Food was being defrosted for two hours at room temperature in the hot kitchen, and not in the fridge for 48 hours as procedures said.
Paperwork to monitor fridge and freezer temperatures, whether opening kitchen checks took place and how hot cooked food was at breakfast on the day of the inspection had not been completed, nor any four-weekly reviews.
Cooled food
Food was being cooled for longer than specified which may allow for bacteria to grow; the same cling film dispenser was being used to wrap raw and ready-to-eat foods when it should be separate and two seals on fridges had split.
The residential home’s spokesperson said a new kitchen manager and support chef were appointed after the inspection, working to review procedures and identify improvements, including implementing a ‘rigorous process’ to ensure paperwork is double-checked for accuracy.
“Deeply disappointed”
They said,
“As a provider of high-quality care, we take our responsibility for providing nutritious, safe and enjoyable food very seriously.
“We are therefore deeply disappointed that our rating has fallen below the high standards we set ourselves and the authorities expect from us.
“However, we are confident our actions will ensure we quickly return to our previous five-star rating.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
