Somerforde Limited

Updated 1 June 2022

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.

Service and service type

Somerforde Limited 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. Somerforde Limited 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

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

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

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 also reviewed additional information we held about the service, this included previous inspection reports and statutory notifications. A statutory notification contains information about certain incidents and events the provider is required to notify us about by law.

During the inspection

We spoke with eight members of staff which included the registered manager, clinical and compliance managers, healthcare staff and the chef. We spoke with five people who lived at the service and observed some interaction between people and staff.

We reviewed a range of records, including people’s care records, staff recruitment files, records relating to safety checks including fire safety, complaints records, accident and incident records. We also reviewed medicines records and records relating to monitoring and quality assurance. Following our site visit we spoke with two people’s relatives we also received further clarification and documentation from the service to validate evidence found.

Updated 1 June 2022

About the service

Somerforde Limited is a residential care home that provides personal care for up to 30 people aged 65 and over. There were 28 people living there at the time of the inspection. The service is in a large house, set in its own grounds, over three floors.

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

People felt safe in the company of staff. One person told us, “It’s amazing here.” We observed positive interactions between people and staff, and it was evident close relationships had been formed. Safeguarding systems and processes were in place to protect people and staff knew how to identify and report concerns. The service was adhering to current UK Government guidance relating to the management of Covid-19.

The service environment was maintained. There was a comprehensive governance system in place to monitor both the quality of service people received and to ensure the service was safe. There was sufficient staff on duty to meet people’s needs and staff said this enabled them to provide high quality of care. New staff were recruited safely. Risks to people were identified and mitigated, medicines were managed safely, and the service was clean and followed good infection 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. There were systems in place that ensured people who were deprived of their liberty were done so with the appropriate legal authority through an application process with the local authority.

People, their relatives and staff gave very positive feedback about the registered manager and the impact they had on the service. We also received positive comments on the quality of care people received. There were systems to obtain feedback from people, their relatives and staff. Quality monitoring systems included audits, observation of staff practice and regular checks of the environment to ensure people received optimal care. Good relationships had been built with external healthcare professionals and the local community.

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 (published 1 April 2020).

At our inspection in May 2019, we recommended that the provider reviewed their medicines management processes and adopted best practice guidance. At this inspection we found improvements had been made.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this 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.

Follow up

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