West Cliff Hall

Updated 15 January 2021

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 carried out by two inspectors, a medicines inspector 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.

Service and service type

West Cliff Hall 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 did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. There were plans to register the current manager. A registered manager and provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people who used the service and six relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the manager and the deputy manager, the quality support manager, head housekeeper, maintenance person and six members of care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included multiple medication records and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, staff training records, a sample of audits and incident reports, care plans, risk assessments and correspondence from healthcare professionals.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 15 January 2021

About the service

West Cliff Hall is a care home that provides accommodation and personal care for up to 59 older people, some of whom live with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 39 people accommodated and one person receiving respite care. Accommodation is arranged over three floors with stair and lift access to all areas.

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

The service had systems and processes in place for the safe storage, administration and use of medicines. However, these processes were not always followed. Infection control procedures were not always effectively implemented. We received mixed views on the level of staffing but the manager reported that agency staff were block booked to help manage shortfalls. People were safeguarded from abuse. The majority of comments from people using the service and relatives were positive. People felt safe and that they were well looked after.

Improvements were needed in record keeping around staff training and competency to administer medication. Regular quality audits were carried out which identified improvements needed but these were not always actioned effectively. Staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities and were positive about working at West Cliff Hall. The new manager was working to improve communication and working practices with other agencies.

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

The last rating for this service was Good (published 25 January 2018)

Why we inspected

We looked at infection prevention and control measures. 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.

We received concerns in relation to medicines, person centred care and infection control practices. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.

The overall rating for the service has changed from Good to Requires Improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and well led sections of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for West Cliff Hall on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service.

We have identified one breach in relation to safe care and treatment 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.