St Rita's Care Home

Updated 17 March 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 3 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

St Rita’s Care Home 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. St Rita’s Care Home 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 registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. We visited the location’s service on 9 February 2023 and 14 February 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from Healthwatch, Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. 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 14 people who use the service and 9 relatives of people who use the service about their experience of the care provided. We sought feedback from 5 health care professional who regularly visits the service and 11 members of staff including the registered manager, members of the management team, registered nurses, care workers, activity staff and the chef.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 9 people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 4 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

Updated 17 March 2023

About the service

St Rita’s Care Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 60 people living with dementia and age-related frailties, 1 person being supported has a learning disability. At the time of the inspection, the service was supporting 55 people.

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

Quality assurance processes did not always identify inconsistencies in relation to care records. Planned care and corresponding records of delivered care were not always documented. Audits did not highlight assessment tools were completed inconsistently. Formal feedback from relatives was not always addressed in a timely way.

People’s health risks were assessed, some assessment tools showed some inconsistencies, however, this did not affect the planned care required. Care plans were written to guide staff on how to meet people’s needs, this included providing safe support with swallowing difficulties and catheter care.

People were cared for by staff who knew them well and were trained to meet their needs. Staff understood their duty to respond to, and report safeguarding concerns. People received their medicines in a person centred and timely way, staff were trained and assessed as competent before administering people’s medicines.

People were protected from infectious diseases by staff who followed the provider’s policy. The service was clean and adapted to suit the needs of people. Dementia friendly signage helped people recognise communal spaces and their bedrooms.

People spoke highly of the support they received. People told us there were enough staff to support them, our observations confirmed this. One person told us, “The people are nice, and the food is good. The staff are very nice." People were encouraged to retain their autonomy and staff treated them with respect.

People were supported by staff who were trained and appropriately supervised. Staff completed training relevant to their role and were given opportunities to train further in areas of interest. One staff member said, “[Staff member] allocates training dependant on shifts and within work time so people can have a life and still complete the training.” People told us staff were trained to meet their needs.

People were engaged and stimulated. Activity workers planned events around people’s wishes. One person told us, “There is something every day, card making, bingo. It is well organised.” People and their relatives told us they knew how to complain and felt comfortable to so do if necessary. Care was person-centred and people were involved in their care planning.

People and their relatives gave positive feedback about the running of the service and the registered manager. They told us they were able to approach the registered manager with suggestions and felt listened to. One relative said, “It doesn’t matter what the request, it is always dealt with and the home is spotlessly clean.”

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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. We considered this guidance as there were people using the service who have a learning disability and or who are autistic.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 4 January 2022 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 1 May 2018.

Why we inspected

This is the first inspection for this newly registered service.

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.

Enforcement

We have identified a breach in relation to governance at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.