Archived: The Village Nursing & Care Home @ Murton

Updated 22 December 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 9 November 2017. The inspection was unannounced, which meant that the staff and provider did not know we would be visiting. The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector, a specialist advisor who was a nurse 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.

Before the inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service, which included notifications submitted to CQC by the provider.

We had requested a provider information return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to help plan for the inspection.

During the inspection we reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and six people’s medicines records. We also looked at three staff recruitment files, including supervision, appraisal and training records, records relating to the management of the service and a wide variety of policies and procedures. We spent time observing people in the communal areas of the service and at lunch time.

We spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager, activity co-ordinator, two nurses, three care staff and a team leader.

Updated 22 December 2017

The Village Nursing & Care Home @ Murton provides personal and nursing care to a maximum of 40 people some of whom are living with a dementia. At the time of the inspection there were 37 people who used the service.

This inspection took place on 9 November 2017. The inspection was unannounced, which meant that the staff and provider did not know we would be visiting. At the last inspection of the service on 30 September 2015, we rated the service as Good. At this inspection the service remained Good.

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 a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Staff understood the procedure they needed to follow if they suspected abuse might be taking place.

Risks to people were identified and plans were put in place to help manage the risk and minimise them occurring. In general medicines were managed safely with an effective system in place. However, we did note some areas in need of improvement and the registered manager wrote to us after the inspection confirming these improvements had been made.

Staff competencies, around administering medication, were regularly checked. Appropriate checks of the building and maintenance systems were undertaken to ensure health and safety was maintained.

People and relatives told us there were suitable numbers of staff on duty to ensure people’s needs were met.

Pre-employment checks were made to reduce the likelihood of employing people who were unsuitable to work with people.

The registered manager had systems in place for reporting, recording, and monitoring significant events, incidents and accidents. The registered manager told us that lessons were learnt when they reviewed all accidents and incidents to determine any themes or trends.

People were supported by a regular team of staff who were knowledgeable about people’s likes, dislikes and preferences. A training plan was in place and staff were suitably trained and received all the support they needed to perform their roles.

People were supported with eating and drinking and feedback about the quality of meals was positive. Special diets were catered for, and alternative choices were offered to people if they did not like any of the menu choices. Nutritional assessments were carried out and action was taken if people were at risk of malnutrition.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. However, further work was needed to ensure decision specific Mental Capacity Assessments and best interest’s decisions were in place when people lacked capacity.

The premises were clean and tidy and people and their relatives told us they liked the homely atmosphere. The service was well maintained with appropriate furniture throughout. The registered manager had carried out research, attended workshops and training to ensure there were some dementia-friendly aspects to the environment in the ‘memory loss’ area of the service.

We observed numerous examples when staff were kind, caring and courteous. Privacy and dignity of people was promoted and maintained by staff. Explanations and reassurance was provided to people throughout the day.

Care plans detailed people’s needs and preferences. Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they contained up to date information that was meeting people’s care need. Staff encouraged people to actively participate in meaningful leisure and recreational activities that reflected their social interests and wishes and maintain relationships with people that mattered to them. The service had a clear process for handling complaints.

The registered manager was aware of the Accessible Information Standard that was introduced in 2016. The Accessible Information Standard is a law which aims to make sure people with a disability or sensory loss are given information they can understand, and the communication support they need.They told us they provided and accessed information for people that was understandable to them. They told us their service users guide and other information was available in different formats and fonts.

Staff told us they enjoyed working at the service and felt supported by the registered manager and senior staff. Quality assurance processes were in place and regularly carried out to monitor and improve the quality of the service. The service worked with various health and social care agencies and sought professional advice to ensure individual needs were being met.