Sotwell Hill House

Updated 23 August 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection, we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector and 1 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

Sotwell Hill House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Sotwell Hill House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

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

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 8 people who used the service and contacted 4 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We contacted 11 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, proprietor and care staff. We observed the interaction between people and staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people’s care records and medication records. We looked at 2 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.

Updated 23 August 2023

About the service

Sotwell Hill House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 36 older people. At the time of our inspection there were 26 people using the service.

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

Systems and processes to maintain effective oversight required improvement. Audits had not previously identified concerns found on inspection. Therefore, improvements had not been made.

Risks to people had not always been assessed or appropriate mitigating strategies implemented. Injuries to people were not always investigated as required and records of injuries did not always have the necessary information documented.

The provider had made improvements and the previous recommendation made by CQC regarding legionella risks had been mitigated.

People were supported by staff who were described as kind and caring. Staff had been safely recruited.

People received their medicines as prescribed. Staff received training and staff recorded when medicines were administered.

Information was shared with people, relatives and staff. Relatives were kept up to date with changes or incidents that occurred with their loved one. Feedback was sought from people, relatives and staff annually.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 30 March 2022) and there was a breach of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.

At this inspection we found the provider remained in breach of regulations.

At our last inspection we recommended that the provider consider current guidance on managing legionella and take action to update their practice accordingly. At this inspection we found they had made improvements.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

We 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 COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Sotwell Hill House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to effective management oversight at this inspection.

Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.