Medihands Clifton

Updated 22 July 2021

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.

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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector 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

Medihands Clifton 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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

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. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the 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 reviewed all the key information providers are required to send us about their service, including statutory notifications. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We spoke with two members of staff including the provider, deputy manager and a care worker.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and their medication records. We looked at five staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision.

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 spoke with three relatives of people using the service and four members of staff. We received feedback from a professional who regularly visit the service.

Updated 22 July 2021

About the service

Medihands Clifton is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 14 people who require support to maintain their mental health. At the time of the inspection, there were 11 people living there.

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

The provider had made improvements since the last inspection in how they monitored the safety and quality of care they provided to people. The provider used the systems in place to identify concerns and areas that needed to be improved. Medicines were stored appropriately in a lockable cabinet. Staff managed and administered medicines safely to people as prescribed. Staff were up to date with training that enabled them to provide care effectively.

Staff understood the abuse that could happen to people and knew the action to take to minimise the risk of avoidable harm. Risk assessments and management plans were in place. Staff managed risks to people’s health and well-being in line with their support plans.

New staff underwent checks for their roles before they started providing care. People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff. The provider took action when incidents and accidents happened and learnt lessons to improve the quality of care. Premises were checked for cleanliness and safety to ensure they were safe, clean and suitably adapted to meet people’s needs.

People’s needs were met by staff who followed guidance and support they obtained from health and social care agencies. Staff were trained to carry out their roles and received appropriate support through induction, team meetings and supervisions to discuss their work and performance.

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.

People received care in a person-centred manner. People using the service felt confident to approach the deputy managers and staff to raise any concerns or suggestions they wanted to discuss. The provider worked closely with external agencies to develop the service and make improvements when needed to plan and deliver safe care to people.

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 16 July 2019) and there were two breaches 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 improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

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.

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to staffing and whether staff had the knowledge and skills they needed to support people using the service. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of Safe, Effective and Well-led only.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.

The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

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