Parklands

Updated 7 June 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Parklands is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection, including their action plan and monthly report. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked for a provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service and seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including the new manager, deputy manager, senior care workers, care workers, housekeeping staff and the cook.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We received feedback from a professional who regularly visits the service.

Updated 7 June 2022

About the service

Parklands is a residential care home providing personal care to 18 people aged 65 and over at the

time of the inspection. The service can support up to 18 people. Parklands is a large premises, located on the edge of a rural village, set over two floors accessed by a lift, ramp and stair lift. At the time of the inspection there were 13 people living there.

People's experience of using this service and what we found

A new experienced management team and staff group had been employed immediately following the previous inspection as a prompt response to the last inspection findings. They carried out regular audits to monitor the quality of care with the provider visiting weekly and supporting the new team. They and their staff team had worked hard to ensure the breaches found at the previous inspection had been addressed and robust systems embedded into practice. We saw examples of how the positive improvements had impacted on ensuring people’s needs were well met and the culture of the service was focussed on person centred care. The provider was responsive and supportive and there had been substantial investment to further promote good quality care at Parklands.

People were safe at the service. Staff had been trained to safeguard people from abuse and understood how to manage risks to people to keep them safe. There were enough staff to support people with staffing levels regularly reviewed and increased in relation to peoples’ dependency levels. The staff worked well as a team and were clear about what they needed to do. Recruitment checks had been undertaken to make sure staff were suitable to support people.

People had a choice of comfortable spaces to spend time in at the service and we saw these being used as people wished. The provider had reviewed all areas and adapted the premises when needed to meet people's needs, for example creating a homely library area, pretty decked outside spaces, auditing and improving décor and/or flooring in all rooms and refreshing the exterior. The premises were clean and tidy. Staff followed current hygiene practice to reduce the risk of infections with new effective systems in place, including a designated laundry person. Visitors to the service were given information to help them reduce the risk of catching and spreading infection. Health and safety checks of the premises and equipment were carried out at regular intervals.

People's’ care and support needs were assessed prior to them using the service. Care was taken to ensure staff could meet peoples’ needs before admission and we saw that people had spent time at the home before choosing to move in. One person with close personal links to the home and told us they were very happy. Peoples’ care plans set out for staff in detail how these needs should be met. Staff understood people's’ needs and how they should be supported with these. They received relevant training to help them to do this. Staff were supported by the manager to continuously improve their working practices to help people achieve positive outcomes and there were regular competency checks.

Staff were calm, kind and respectful of people. They knew them well. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were supported to stay healthy and well. Staff helped people eat and drink enough to meet their needs, to take their prescribed medicines and to manage their healthcare conditions. People and staff's feedback indicated that since the previous inspection there had been great improvement in the way the service was run. Staff approached us throughout the inspection to tell us how much the service had changed for the better.

People and relatives were satisfied with the quality of care and support they received. The manager reviewed accidents, incidents and complaints to identify how the service could improve further and had taken action based on peoples’ views. People were encouraged to have their say about how the service could improve.

The service worked with other agencies and healthcare professionals. We received positive feedback from two visiting health professionals. The provider and management team acted on their recommendations to improve the quality and safety of the service for people.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for the service under the previous legal entity was Inadequate, published on 10 November 2021. We identified breaches in relation to safeguarding, risk management, person centred care, dignity and privacy, choice and consent, staffing levels, training and competency, premises and good governance. We also made two recommendations in relation to meeting peoples' social and leisure needs and improving dementia care. This service has been in Special Measures since 10 November 2021. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating. We undertook this inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. We also looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.