Archived: Priory Court Care Home

Updated 16 March 2022

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.

This was a focussed inspection and we checked whether the provider had met the requirements of the Warning Notice in relation to Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Regulated Activities Regulations 2014. We had identified concerns in relation to infection prevention and control (IPC), nutrition and hydration and Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPS). We further followed-up a condition placed on the Provider’s registration in relation to Regulation 17 (Good Governance) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Regulated Activities Regulations 2014, regarding concerns identified in relation to oversight of unexplained bruising, nutrition and hydration, and environmental risks.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This included checking the provider was meeting COVID-19 vaccination requirements. 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 undertaken by one Inspector.

Service and service type

Priory Court Care and 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. Priory Court Care and Nursing Home is a care home without nursing care. 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

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the 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 reviewed monthly reports and regular updates submitted by the provider since their last inspection. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We toured the premises and observed lunch time. We spoke with fourteen staff members including senior care staff, care staff, activities coordinator, registered manager, members of the operations team, the nominated individual and the catering manager. We spoke with four people who were receiving care and support in Priory Court Care and Nursing Home. We reviewed various records in relation to the running of the service including audits, checks and recruitment files for three care staff.

The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

After the inspection

We continued to clarify our findings with the provider and registered manager. We spoke with one relative. We provided our contact details for professionals and relatives; however we did not receive any further contact.

Updated 16 March 2022

About the service

Priory Court Care and Nursing Home is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 71 people. The service provides support to older people, people with dementia and people with a physical disability. At the time of our inspection, there were 20 people using the service. In response to findings at our previous inspection, the provider had amended their registration and no longer provided nursing care at the time of this inspection.

Priory Court Care and Nursing Home provides accommodation across three floors. At the time of our inspection, the first floor had been closed and people were occupying bedrooms on the ground and second floors. Both floors provide people with access to communal toilets, washing facilities, dining and lounging areas. People have level access to a well-stocked garden from the ground floor. The registered manager’s office is located adjacent to the reception area.

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

In response to findings at our last inspection, the nominated individual and operations team had increased provider-level visits to the service. Additionally, the recently appointed registered manager had worked to introduce a programme of quality audits and checks in line with the provider’s policies. The service had worked with external professionals to drive improvement and had an action plan to sustain improvements made to date.

At our last inspection, we identified people had not received support in a caring way. At this inspection, we found significant improvements had been made, including staff re-training around dignity. People told us staff were kind to them.

Since our last inspection the registered manager, operations team and staff had worked to make significant improvements. People were no longer at risk of experiencing avoidable harm and abuse. Potential risks were assessed, managed and mitigated. Staff confirmed staffing levels had improved and there were sufficient numbers of staff to meet peoples’ needs. We received mixed comments from people about staffing levels.

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 inadequate (published 21 September 2021). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

At our last inspection, we recommended recruitment processes were reviewed and amended to ensure checks were undertaken in line with requirements. At this inspection, we found improvements had been made to ensure recruitment checks were undertaken consistently.

At our last inspection, we recommended the provider review and amend systems in relation to the application of topical creams. At this inspection, we found enough improvement had been made and topical creams were applied in line with published guidance about best practice.

This service has been in Special Measures since September 2021. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

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 COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively. This included checking the provider was meeting COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has changed from inadequate to good based on the findings of this inspection.

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

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.