Sandown Nursing Home

Updated 24 March 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 15 February 2021 and was announced.

Updated 24 March 2021

The inspection took place on the 12 and 20 December 2018 and was unannounced.

Sandown Nursing Home is registered to provide accommodation for up to 39 older people. There were 33 people living at the home at the time of the inspection. The home is a large extended property and accommodation is arranged over two floors. Most bedrooms were for single occupancy and many had ensuite facilities. Bathrooms and toilets were provided on both floors. There was a lift and stairs available to access the first floor. There was level access to an enclosed patio and garden.

Sandown Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation, nursing and 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. We found the home to be clean and well maintained throughout the inspection.

A registered manager was in place. 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 and visitors found staff to be kind and caring. People were encouraged to take part in decisions about their care and support and their views were listened to. Staff respected people's individuality, privacy, dignity and independence.

The home had an open, friendly atmosphere in which people, visitors and staff were encouraged to make their views and opinions known.

The provider had arrangements in place to protect people from risks to their safety and welfare.

Arrangements were also in place to store medicines safely and to administer them according to people's needs and preferences.

People were supported to access healthcare services, such as GPs and specialist nurses and doctors. At the end of their lives people received the care they required to remain comfortable and

pain free.

Care and support were based on plans which considered people's needs and conditions, as well as their abilities and preferences. Care plans were adapted as people's needs changed, and were reviewed regularly.

Staffing levels enabled people to be supported safely and in a calm, professional manner. Recruitment processes were followed to make sure only workers who were suitable to work in a care setting were employed. Staff received appropriate training and supervision to make sure they had the skills and knowledge to support people to the required standard.

Staff were aware of the need to gain people's consent to their care and support. 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. The arrangements included processes and procedures to protect people from the risk of abuse.

People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain their health and welfare. They could make choices about their food and drink, and meals were prepared appropriately where people had particular dietary needs.

People could take part in leisure activities which reflected their interests and provided mental and physical stimulation. Group and individual activities were available if people wished to take part.

Systems were in place to make sure the service was managed efficiently and to monitor and assess the quality of service provided. The provider acted where these systems found improvements could be made.