Priestley

Updated 9 May 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team: The inspection team consisted of two adult social care inspectors and an expert by experience with experience in dementia care. 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: Priestley is a care home without nursing. This means it provides people with accommodation and personal care. 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: Our inspection was unannounced.

What we did: Before the inspection we reviewed the information we had received from the service including notifications about incidents in the home that the registered manager is required to make. We assessed the information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also asked the local authority, safeguarding teams and other professionals who have contact with the home for any information they could share about the service. We did not receive any information of concern.

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, deputy operations director, four members of staff, 12 people who used the service and six visiting relatives. We looked at four people’s care plans and other records including those connected with recruitment and training, maintenance of premises, medicines administration and quality monitoring.

We observed staff providing support to people in the communal areas of the service. By observing we could judge whether people were comfortable and happy with the support they received.

Updated 9 May 2019

About the service: Priestley is registered to provide accommodation for up to forty people aged 65 and over who require residential care. At the time of our inspection there were 38 people at the home. Some people who used the service were living with dementia.

People’s experience of using this service: Safe recruitment processes were followed, although one recruitment file did not state why an applicant’s reference had changed. There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to provide care who received ongoing support and training.

People said meals were not always being served hot. This was identified in the satisfaction survey and the registered manager had taken action. We have asked them to monitor this. People were supported to maintain a healthy and balanced diet and they had enough to drink.

People felt safe living at this home. They were supported by staff who received training and were able to identify and respond appropriately to abuse. Risks to people were assessed, monitored and reviewed.

Safe systems were used to support the management of medication. Staff had regular training and competency checks were carried out. People received prompt support from staff to access healthcare services.

Care plans were person-centred and provided relevant information for staff. We observed staff were kind and compassionate in their interactions and they knew people’s needs and their preferences. Privacy and dignity was always respected.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. When people were unable to make their own decisions about their care and support, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) were followed.

Feedback was invited through satisfaction surveys, meetings with people and relatives as well as the complaints process. These were discussed with staff which helped to promote continuous improvement. A regular system of audits was found to be effective. The registered manager provided strong examples of where they had developed relationships with partners in the local community. People and relatives provided positive feedback about the registered manager.

Rating at last inspection: This was our first inspection of this service since it re-registered in February 2018.

Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on the date the registered provider re-registered this service.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we are scheduled to return. We inspect according to a schedule based on the current rating, however may inspect sooner if we receive information of concern.

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