This inspection took place on 7 June 2018 and was unannounced. The last comprehensive inspection took place in April 2017. At that inspection, we found a breach in the regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. The breach was in Regulation 19: Fit and proper persons. The registered provider sent an action plan detailing how they were going to make improvements. This inspection took place to check if improvements had been made. We found that the registered had made sufficient improvements to meet the requirement of this Regulation.
Saxondale Nursing Home 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.
Saxondale Nursing Home is registered to provide accommodation for up to 36 older people. Accommodation is provided over two floors, accessed by a passenger lift. Communal lounges and dining areas are provided. On the day of the inspection there were 30 people living in the home.
The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People told us they felt safe at Saxondale Nursing Home and staff told us they would report any concerns to the registered manager. Systems and processes were in place to ensure that people were protected from abuse and improper treatment.
Visitors said they were made to feel welcome at any time and were very positive about the care their relatives received.
Staff were knowledgeable about people living at the home and understood how to meet their diverse needs.
We observed warmth and affection between staff and people who used the service. People were treated with dignity and respect.
We found the home was clean and odour free. Bedrooms had been personalised and communal areas were comfortably furnished. The home was adequately maintained, and equipment had been serviced to make sure it was safe to use.
Staff recruitment procedures were robust and ensured people’s safety was promoted.
Sufficient numbers of staff were provided to meet people’s needs.
Staff were provided with relevant training, supervision and appraisal so they had the skills they needed to undertake their role.
Staff told us they felt supported by the registered manager.
People told us they and their relatives had been involved in their plan of care and had participated in regular reviews.
We found systems were in place to make sure people received their medicines safely, so their health was looked after.
People had access to a range of health care professionals to help maintain their health. A varied diet was provided, which took into account dietary needs and preferences, so people’s health was promoted, and choices could be respected.
People were supported to take part in a variety of activities.
People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies in the service support this practice Wherever possible, people were involved in decisions about their care and were offered choices.
People and staff were happy with the service and praised the manager. There was a positive and open culture within the service. Staff said they felt able to raise concerns and were confident they would be responded to.
There was a complaints procedure in place and we saw where concerns had been raised these had been dealt with appropriately.
We saw there were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. When areas for improvement were identified, action was taken to address these shortfalls.
People using the service were asked for their views and were able to influence the way the service was managed.
Accidents and incidents were investigated, recorded and monitored and action was taken to help control risk and prevent further accidents and incidents from happening.
The registered provider has made progress since our last inspection to improve the service for people living at Saxondale Care Home. These changes are very recent and need to be sustained.