Sunnyside Rest Home

Updated 26 October 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.

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 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Sunnyside Rest 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. Sunnyside Rest 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 not a registered manager in post. The service had a new manager in post, who was in the process of submitting their application.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people who used the service and 3 loved ones about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 4 members of staff including the manager, senior care worker, care workers and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service. We reviewed a range of records, which included detailed reviews of 2 people's care plans and various medication records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 26 October 2022

About the service

Sunnyside Rest Home is a residential care home providing accommodation for persons who require personal care to up to 7 people. The service provides support to younger people, older adults and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 7 people using the service. The care home accommodates people across one floor in one building.

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

Medicines records were not always complete and stock levels did not always match paperwork. Risks to people’s health and environmental risks were not always appropriately assessed. Staffing levels were adequate, but recruitment practices needed to be more robust. We have made a recommendation about this. The home was clean and tidy, but some infection control practices needed to be reviewed. We made recommendation around this. People were safeguarded from abuse.

People were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did not support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; although the policies and systems in the service supported this practice, we found the necessary referrals to deprive people of their liberty was not always in place when people lacked capacity.

People's needs had not always been fully assessed. We made a recommendation about this. Staff supervisions were not happening in line with the provider’s policy. Staff had access to various training courses, however, we found that not all training was being completed in line policy. We made a recommendation about this. People were supported with their healthcare needs and received a balanced diet. Some adaptations had been made to the environment; however, further work could be done to improve this.

People's equality and diversity needs were respected, and staff received training in this area. Staff were seen to be kind and considerate in their interaction with people, and they supported people to be independent as possible. People were able to express their views.

Records relating to people’s care needs were not always as person centred as they should have been. People were able to make decisions. Feedback on activities was mixed, but people were supported to receive visits from loved ones. End of life training and paperwork needed to be improved/implemented. A complaints policy was in place, though the home had received no complaints. People’s communication needs were being considered.

Audits were not always robust, as they had not always identified the issues we found during our inspection and various records required reviewing. Although the service did not have a registered manager in post, the manager was in the process of registering. The service had a positive culture and staff worked in partnership with various other agencies and health professionals. The manager reported any necessary incidents, however, lessons learned were not consistently taking place. Although staff meetings were taking place, meetings for relatives and service users were not, though the manger told us relatives were kept up to date over the phone or when visiting.

In the areas where we identified concerns the manager told us they would look to make improvements.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 6 April 2020 and this is the first inspection.

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.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified breaches in relation to risk, medicines management, safeguarding people and governance at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.