Strawberry Fields Care Home

Updated 6 May 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.

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 one inspector.

Service and service type

Strawberry Fields Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

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 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 (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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We reviewed documentation, inspected the safety of the premises, and carried out observations in communal areas. We spoke with two people who used the service, four relatives, and six members of staff including the manager, deputy home manager, supporting manager, housekeeper, senior care assistants and a care assistant. We reviewed the care records for four people, multiple medicine records and the recruitment records for three members of staff.

After the inspection

We continued to review documentation relating to the quality and assurance systems in place.

Updated 6 May 2022

About the service

Strawberry Fields Care Home is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. This service supports older people living with dementia, memory loss and similar disorders. At the time of the inspection there were 37 people using the service

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

Staff had not always followed good infection control practices and the home was not clean and well maintained. Medicines were managed safely but medicines records were not always accurately maintained. Staffing levels were maintained, however the service experienced recruitment issues and relied on agency staff.

The provider's systems for monitoring the service were not always effective. Audits had not always identified shortfalls, or actions had not been taken to make improvements.

People and relatives were positive about the kind and caring nature of staff and had good relationships with them. Relatives and visitors were welcomed into the service. People and their relatives took part in their care planning. Staff worked well with other professionals to help identify and meet people's needs.

Staff said they were happy in their roles and told us they felt the management of the service was supportive.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

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 good (published 9 May 2019).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to infection control, staffing and quality of care people received. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

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.

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

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Strawberry Fields Care Home 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 and will take further action if needed.

We have identified breaches in relation to infection prevention and control and good governance 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. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.