Revitalise Sandpipers

Updated 23 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

This inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Revitalise Sandpipers 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. Revitalise Sandpipers is a care home with 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 manager in post. The manager had been in post since June 2022, an application had been made to CQC to enable them to become registered.

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 (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 carried out an inspection of the service to ensure it was safe and suitable to meet people's needs. We also observed the delivery of support at various times throughout the day. We spoke with 6 people who were using the service, including 1 person who had been admitted to the spinal injury unit. We also spoke to 6 members of staff, including the manager, the regional clinical lead, a team leader, a senior and 2 members of support staff.

We looked at records in relation to people who used the service including 4 support plans, medicine records and systems for monitoring the safety and quality of the service provided. We looked at 3 staff recruitment files and quality assurance records.

Updated 23 May 2023

About the service

Revitalise Sandpipers is a specialist residential service which provides respite holidays for people living with a disability. The service offers breaks in a relaxed, holiday style environment, and offers a variety of trips, entertainment and activities. People who use the service are supported by a team of staff and volunteers. The service can accommodate up to 38 people. At the time of our inspection 23 people were using the service.

Although the service was a holiday destination and predominantly offered short term breaks, five of its beds were commissioned by the NHS for people who had acquired a spinal injury. People stayed on the spinal unit for an average period of 6 weeks. Although the NHS supplied its own staff, staff employed by Revitalise Sandpipers also provided some support. We took this into consideration during our inspection.

People using the services of Revitalise Sandpipers benefited from a service that was safe and well-led.

Regular health and safety checks were carried out to ensure the service offered a safe environment for people. Risks to people were managed in a pro-active way. Staff supported people to manage risk in way which kept them safe and respected their individual choice.

Staff had been trained in how to report and manage any safeguarding incidents. The service adopted an open and learning approach, to help minimise the risk of incidents recurring.

People received their medicines as prescribed and by staff who were trained and competent.

Staff recruitment processes ensured staff were safe to work with people. People told us there were enough staff to meet their needs in a timely way.

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 manager was described by staff as being hands on, knowledgeable and approachable. The manager helped instil a positive culture which was committed to delivering high-quality support to people. People thought highly of the service and many were repeat guests. Staff were keen to share with us how much they enjoyed supporting people at the service, to help make their holiday experience memorable.

The service worked in collaboration and partnership with other relevant organisations to help achieve positive outcomes 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 this service was good (report published 24 May 2018).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about management of risk, including the use of bed rails. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the Safe section of this full report.

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 COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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 remained good based on the findings of this inspection.

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

Follow up

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