Catherine Miller House

Updated 13 May 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 completed by 1 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

Catherine Miller 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. Catherine Miller 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.

Inspection activity started on 3 April 2023 and ended on 24 April 2023. We visited the location’s service on 12 April 2023.

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 (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 4 people who used the service and 1 relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff and the registered manager.

We viewed a range of records. This included 2 people’s care records and medicine administration. We looked at 3 staff member’s personnel files in relation to the service’s recruitment practices. A variety of records including quality assurance and management documentation were viewed.

Updated 13 May 2023

About the service

Catherine Miller House is a residential care home providing care to 24 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 30 people, including people living with dementia.

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

Quality assurance and governance arrangements at the service had improved since the last inspection However, further improvements to the recording of management information would make the service more efficient.

We have made a recommendation about a review of recording systems to effectively manage the service.

Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were assessed and updated. Staff knew people’s needs well, knew how to protect and safeguard them and people told us they were safe. Recruitment processes had been improved to ensure the safe employment of staff. Staff had received an induction process and staff training was up to date with refresher training ongoing.

There were enough staff on duty to provide appropriate care and support to people living at Catherine Miller House. The service was clear about its responsibilities relating to medicines management. This ensured people received their medicines as prescribed. People were protected by the service’s infection prevention and control practices.

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.

The management team were visible in the service and promoted person centred care. Staff felt supported, were kind and caring and enjoyed working at the service.

The provider and staff team had developed positive working relationships with external stakeholders and other healthcare professionals. Lessons had been learnt when things had gone wrong.

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 9 November 2021) and there were two breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection in September 2021 to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection enough improvement had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of the regulations.

At our last inspection we recommended that recruitment procedures and the provider's governance arrangements needed review. At this inspection we found the provider had acted on the recommendations and improvements had been made but further improvement was recommended.

Why we inspected

We undertook this unannounced focused inspection to check the provider had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions of Safe and Well led which contain those requirements.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

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 Catherine Miller House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk