Stowford House Care Home

Updated 15 October 2020

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

The inspection was completed by one inspector and a specialist advisor in dementia care. An Expert by Experience spoke with relatives by telephone. 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

Stowford House 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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

Notice of inspection

We advised the registered manager of our visit on 16 September to establish the COVID-19 status of the service.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We requested and reviewed a range of records prior to the on-site visit, which included records relating to seven people’s care and records relating to the management of the service. We spoke with 13 relatives of people living in the service.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager and two nurses. We reviewed a range of records, which included people’s medicine records and two staff files. We observed care practice and infection control practice.

After the inspection

We spoke with five staff members to obtain their views on the service.

Updated 15 October 2020

About the service

Stowford House Care Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 44 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection.

Stowford House care Home accommodates up to 51 people in one purpose-built building which covers two floors. One floor specialises in providing care to people living with dementia.

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

People received safe care from sufficient staff who were skilled and knowledgeable about people’s needs. Staff understood how to report any concerns relating to harm and abuse. The provider had recruitment processes in place that supported safer recruitment decisions.

Risks to people were assessed and managed. Staff were knowledgeable about how to support people to manage risks. People received their medicines as prescribed from staff who were trained and competent to administer medicines.

The service was well-managed. Everyone was positive about the management of the service and the culture promoted by the registered manager and deputy. There was an open and honest culture that promoted good communication and involvement with people, relatives and staff.

The registered manager had introduced a range of effective systems that ensured the continuous monitoring and improvement of the service. The registered manager worked well with external professionals and promoted community involvement.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (Published 9 August 2019).

At this inspection we found improvements had been made.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 10 June 2019. Two breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment and governance in the service.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements.

The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Stowford House Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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 coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.