Background to this inspection
Updated
22 July 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.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Service and service type
Stour Road Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Stour Road Care Home is a care home without nursing care. 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 safeguarding teams. 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 spoke and spent time with 10 people who used the service and asked them about living at Stour Road Care Home. We spoke with and received feedback from 14 members of staff including the provider, registered manager, home manager, support manager, care team leaders, care workers, maintenance operative and the chef. We received feedback from health and social care professionals who work with the home. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.
We reviewed a range of records. This included eight people's care records and eight medication records. We looked at five 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 looked at training data, policies and procedures.
Updated
22 July 2022
About the service
Stour Road Care Home is a residential care home registered to provide care and support for up to 20 people. The home is accessed over three floors by stairs or a lift, there were communal areas and a conservatory with level access to a secure garden. There were 20 people receiving care and support, some of whom were living with dementia.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Improvements had been made to personalised care since our last inspection. However, we have made a recommendation about activities and social engagement within the home, as improvements had not been embedded.
Care plans were detailed and contained relevant information about how to support a person in the ways they preferred. Information regarding specific health conditions were not person specific, we raised this with the registered manager and they immediately sought to rectify it. Staff knew people well and they encouraged people to live good lives.
Risk assessments were comprehensive and contained relevant information to support staff to keep people safe whilst living their lives. Risk assessments were clear and detailed, especially for those who needed support due to emotional distress. Staff knew people’s risks well and were clear on how to raise concerns if they thought someone was at risk of harm or abuse. Staff were confident their concerns would be followed up and acted upon, they also knew who to contact outside of the home if needed.
People received their medicines as prescribed, staff who gave medicines were trained and had their competency assessed. Safe procedures were in place for ordering and storage. Robust recruitment processes meant people had the necessary skills and qualifications to provide care and support to people. The necessary checks had taken place to establish staff suitability. There were enough staff on duty, however, unplanned sickness and shortages of staff meant recruitment was ongoing.
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. The necessary authorisation to deprive a person of their liberty was in place and conditions within them met fully by the home. This meant they were acting in full compliance with the law, protecting people’s rights.
Quality assurance and governance systems operated effectively. Audits and checks were undertaken and a multi-layered approach to management meant the service could continually learn and improve. The registered manager was respected and known for their open and transparent practice. The home had good links with external agencies and worked well with others.
Staff felt proud to work at Stour Road Care Home and we received positive feedback about the management of the home following changes within recent months. Staff felt appreciated and were involved in the home.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 24 March 2021).
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
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.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.