Archived: Sunrise of Solihull

People’s experience of using this service:

• People received support with their medicines. However, staff did not always have the training to complete some of the necessary health checks needed to safely administer some medicines.

• The home was undergoing a period of transition and some staff still felt anxious about the changes. However, the registered manager was working hard to bring about stability at the home.

• Staff understood how to keep people safe. Staff knew how to recognise and report abuse.

• Staff recognised the risks to people's health, safety and well-being and how to support them. However, written risk assessments required updating to ensure all required information was available for staff.

• Staff had received training on infection control but did not always ensure they minimised the risk of the spread of infection.

• New staff were recruited safely.

• An action plan was in place which the provider and registered manager were working through, in order to bring about further improvement at the home.

• Guidance on people's needs was shared through supervision and staff meetings.

• Systems were in place to take any learning from any complaints made.

• People were offered numerous choices at mealtimes.

• People’s access to healthcare appointments and advice from healthcare professionals was planned and reviewed and information shared with staff at handover meetings.

• People were treated with dignity and respect and their independence was promoted.

• People and their families were involved in planning their care with support from staff.

Rating at last inspection: Repeat Requires Improvement; The last report was published November 2018.

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service continued to be Requires Improvement.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit in line with our inspection programme. If concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.

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

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Sunrise of Solihull on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Since that inspection we received information of concern about people’s safety which we shared with the local authority safeguarding and commissioning teams for investigation.

However, as the information we received indicated potential concerns about people’s safety, the delivery of planned care and the management of the home we undertook a focused inspection to check people were safe and the service was well-led.

This inspection took place on 9 October 2018 and was unannounced.

We focused on two of the five key questions we ask of services. Is the service ‘safe,’ and is the service ‘well-led.’ This report only covers our findings in relation to these topics.

Sunrise of Solihull provides residential and nursing care to older people, including people who live with dementia. The home has three floors accommodating up to 109 people in one adapted building. The Reminiscence unit cares for people living with dementia and the Assisted Living unit supports people with higher levels of independence. On the day of our inspection 80 people lived at the home. The home is in Solihull in the West Midlands.

Since our last inspection, the registered manager had left the service. 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. An ‘interim’ manager from one of the provider’s other services was supporting the home. The ‘interim’ manager is referred to as the manager in this report.

On the day of our visit the manager was not available due to pre-planned leave. The home was being supported by one of the provider’s ‘pipe line’ general managers and the deputy manager.

People told us they felt safe living Sunrise of Solihull but some were concerned staff were not always available to respond to their requests for care and support at the times they needed. Staff were recruited safely and understood how to protect people from harm. Medicines were not always managed safely and in line with the provider’s policy.

Some records relating to people’s planned care and associated risk were not being accurately maintained and did not provide staff with the detail they needed to ensure care and support was provided safely. This meant we could not be sure people’s care was delivered as planned and known risks were being effectively managed to keep people safe. Other records were detailed and complete. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of the needs of the people they supported.

Some staff felt the management team were approachable and supportive. Other staff said they did not feel valued or that the management team provided meaningful opportunities for them to discuss their role and development. Staff felt communication from the management needed to improve.

People, relatives and a visiting health professional spoke positively about the way the home was managed and the service provided. The provider’s systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service provided and to drive improvement were not always effective. Some improvements had been made in response to feedback from people and relatives.

We found one breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.

Sunrise of Solihull is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or 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.

The care home provides residential and nursing care to older people, including people who live with dementia. The home has three floors accommodating up to 109 people in one adapted building. The Reminiscence unit cares for people living with dementia and the Assisted Living unit supports people with higher levels of independence. On the day of our visit 89 people lived at the home and one person was in hospital. The home is located in Solihull in the West Midlands.

At our last inspection on 17 December 2015 the home was rated overall as Good with the key question ‘Safe’ being rated as Requires Improvement. This was because there were not always enough staff available to support people at times they needed to ensure their needs were effectively met. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and all areas were rated ‘Good’.

Since our last inspection Sunrise of Solihull has made changes to their registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The home is now dual registered which means two providers (Sunrise UK Operations Limited and Sunrise Senior Living Limited) are jointly liable and responsible for service delivery at the home.

There was a registered manager at the home who had been in post for three years. 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.

There were enough staff to provide the care and support people needed at the times people preferred. Staff were recruited safely and received the guidance, support and training they needed to provide safe and effective care.

People told us they felt safe living at Sunrise of Solihull. Staff understood how to protect people from harm, and provided good support to reduce identified risks. Medicines were managed safely. Information in care records ensured staff had the detail needed to ensure care and support was provided in line with the individual needs and preferences of each person.

People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the home supported this practice. People and their relatives were involved in planning their care, and people decided how they wanted to live their lives on a day to day basis.

People enjoyed their meals and the varied range of choices available to them. They were supported to access healthcare professionals when needed. Staff respected people’s privacy and promoted their dignity by supporting people to be independent. People and relatives spoke highly of staff who they felt were caring and friendly.

People were supported to maintain relationships with people who were important to them. Family and friends were welcomed to visit the home at any time. A range of meaningful activities were available which people could choose to take part in. People were supported to follow individual interests and hobbies.

People, relatives and professional visitors were complimentary about the quality of care provided and the way the home was managed. Staff enjoyed working at the home and felt supported and valued by the management team.

The management team completed regular checks to monitor the quality and safety of service provided, and encouraged people and relatives and staff to share their views about the home to drive forward improvements. Complaints were managed in line with the provider’s procedure.

Further information is in the detailed findings below