Frithwood Nursing Home

Updated 21 December 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 an inspector, nurse specialist inspector and an Expert by Experience. A second Expert by Experience carried out telephone interviews with relatives following the inspection. 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

Frithwood Nursing 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. Frithwood Nursing 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 not a registered manager in post. The manager at the home left the service on the 12 October 2023. The provider confirmed the deputy manager would be acting as an interim manager whilst a new manager was recruited.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since their last 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 17 people who lived at the home about their experience of the care and 10 family members. We spoke with the manager, deputy manager and 2 staff members and the acting chef. We looked at a range of records which included the care records for 5 people, 4 care workers’ files and a range of records including medicines records and policies.

Updated 21 December 2023

About the service

Frithwood Nursing Home is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service provided both nursing and personal care and is registered to care for up to 26 people. At the time of our inspection, 26 people were living at the service. All the people were over the age of 65 years and some people were living with the experience of dementia.

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

The provider did not always ensure risk management plans had been developed to provide staff with guidance on actions which could mitigate identified risks related to a person’s health and wellbeing. When an incident and accident or safeguarding concern occurred the provider did not always identify lessons which could be learned to reduce the risk of reoccurrence.

The provider did not always ensure the home’s environment was appropriate to meet people’s needs. People’s nutritional needs and preferences were not always met. Care plans did not always provide staff with information on people’s support needs and their wishes in relation to how their care should be provided. The provider had a range of quality assurance processes, but these were not always robust enough to indicate when improvement was required.

The provider had a robust recruitment process to ensure new staff had the skills and knowledge for the role. Medicines were managed and administered safely and as prescribed. 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.

Relatives were happy with the care and support their family members received. People felt the staff were kind and caring and they supported them to make decisions about their care. The provider has a procedure for the investigation of complaints. People’s communication support needs were identified. Staff felt supported by the management of the home.

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 30 October 2018).

Why we inspected

We inspected due to the length of time since the last inspection.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to person centred care, safe care and treatment, premises and equipment and good 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.