Background to this inspection
Updated
14 March 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 was carried out by two inspectors; a specialist advisor, pharmacy inspector and expert by experience who had personal experience of caring for older persons with dementia. 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:
Harry Sotnick House is a 'care home with nursing'. People in care homes receive accommodation and 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. Harry Sotnick House can accommodate up to 92 people living with dementia and physical frailty.
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:
The inspection was unannounced.
What we did:
Before the inspection we reviewed information, we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, for example, injuries that occur in the service and any allegations of such as abuse. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is 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.
Some people using the service were not able to verbally express their views about the service. Therefore, we spent time observing interactions between staff and people within the communal areas of the home. We spoke to eight relatives/friends, ten members of staff, the registered manager and the service manager. We looked at the care records for six people in detail and the medicines records for 13 people. We also looked at six staff recruitment records; staff supervision and training records and records relating to the quality and management of the service.
Updated
14 March 2019
About the service: Harry Sotnick House is a 'care home with nursing'. People in care homes receive accommodation and 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. Harry Sotnick House can accommodate up to 92 people living with dementia and physical frailty. There were 38 people at the home when we inspected.
People’s experience of using this service:
• In April 2018 a new provider took over the running of Harry Sotnick House.
• Improvements had taken place at the service and the managers were creating a culture to support the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care. Multiple governance systems had been introduced and had led to positive outcomes for people. However, further time was needed to fully embed some of the processes in order to ensure records reflected clear assessment of risk and lessons learned following incidents.
• Medicines were managed safely and people were supported by effective staff who understood their responsibility to keep people safe.
• People’s involvement in activities had greatly improved and they were provided with opportunities to access the community by staff who were keen to do this.
• People were mostly treated with kindness and respect by staff who understood the importance of supporting people to make their own decisions and of the importance of maintaining privacy and dignity.
• There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and the provider was actively working to recruit registered nurses.
• People were supported by staff who felt valued and listened to and who felt the training opportunities for them were good.
• The management team were open and transparent. They understood the regulatory responsibility and were working hard to provide an effective service to people. No one had any complaints and felt the management team were open, approachable and supportive. Everyone was confident the provider would take the necessary actions to address any concerns promptly. Feedback about the management team demonstrated they listened and took any feedback as an opportunity to make improvements for people.
Rating at last inspection: A focused inspection carried out in August 2018, following concerns, rated this service as Requires Improvement. (Report published September 2018).
Why we inspected: This was the first comprehensive inspection of this service since the change in provider in April 2018 and was to ensure the provider was meeting the requirements of the legislation.
Follow up: There is no required follow up to this inspection. We will continue to monitor all information received about the service to understand any risks that may arise and to ensure the next inspection is scheduled accordingly.