St Cecilia

Updated 22 July 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 one inspector.

Service and service type

St Cecilia 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

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 commissioning and safeguarding teams. 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 took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff including the registered manager, compliance officer, care assistants, senior care assistant, maintenance officer and cook. We made general observations of interactions between people and staff throughout the day.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We received feedback from five health and social care professionals who regularly visit and work with the service.

Updated 22 July 2021

About the service

St Cecilia is a residential care home registered to provide care and support to up to 15 older people. They specialised in providing care and support for people living with dementia. There were 14 people living at St Cecilia at the time of inspection. The home provided accommodation in an adapted property with rooms over three floors with access via stairs and a stair lift.

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

People were safe living at St Cecilia. The home had implemented various improvements following our last inspection. This included changes to make the environment safer and ensuring people’s risks were properly assessed. Staff knew how to keep people safe, how to raise concerns and were confident it would be dealt with correctly and efficiently.

There was enough staff on duty, and they had the necessary skills and training to support people. People who lived at St Cecilia were living with dementia and had complex needs. Staff were present and engaging with people and there was a calm, relaxed atmosphere.

Medicines were managed safely, and the home worked well with healthcare professionals to implement changes when necessary. Infection prevention and control procedures were robust, and the latest government guidance was being followed in regard to COVID-19. People were supported to eat and drink and enjoyed their likes and preferences. Where needed specialist advice had been sought such as where there was a risk of choking.

St Cecilia was homely, and the décor reflected the age of the property. There was an ongoing programme of redecoration and updating that was monitored by the provider and the registered manager. People had personalised care plans and they were reviewed and updated regularly; everyone was involved in this process. Electronic care plans and records meant that updates were instant and people were receiving the most up to date care.

People knew how to make a complaint and the home had a procedure in place. Improvements had been made to the oversight of the service. A range of audits checked the systems within the home. During the inspection the registered manager made additional improvements to the process. People, their relatives and staff were complimentary about the registered manager and compliance officer. They told us that St Cecilia was well led. Health and social care professionals explained that many people living at St Cecilia had complex health needs which were managed well by the home.

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. Where necessary people had capacity assessments and documentation to show care was delivered in their best interest with all relevant people involved.

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 18 November 2019), and there were multiple breaches of regulation. 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.

Why we inspected

At our last inspection breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment, person centred care and good governance. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective, responsive and well-led only.

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.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the caring key questions. We therefore did not inspect it. The rating from the previous comprehensive inspection for the caring key question 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 St Cecilia on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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.