Nottingham Neurodisability Service Hucknall

Updated 20 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, a specialist nurse advisor and an Expert by Experience. 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

Nottingham Neurodisability Service Hucknall is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Nottingham Neurodisability Service Hucknall is a care home with 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 the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and clinical commissioning group who commissioned care with the service. 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 visited the service on 12 May 2022 and 16 May 2022. We spoke with 13 staff members including the registered manager, practice development nurse, registered nurse, care workers, senior care worker, kitchen staff, maintenance staff and housekeeping staff. We spoke with five people who used the service and 11 people's relatives. Not everyone living at the service was able to or wanted to speak with us, therefore we spent time observing interactions between staff and people. We reviewed a range of records. This included six peoples care records and multiple medicine records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including concerns and complaints were reviewed.

After the inspection

We sought further information from the provider that we did not review on site, to inform our inspection judgements. This included staff training information, staff rotas and policies. Offsite inspection activity concluded on 20 May 2022.

Updated 20 July 2022

About the service

Nottingham Neurodisability Service Hucknall is a care home that provides nursing and personal care for up to 71 adults with an acquired brain injury and other complex neurological conditions. At the time of the inspection 52 people lived at the home. The service is provided over three units across two floors, part of the home was under refurbishment therefore not all areas of the home were accessible to people using the service.

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

Infection and prevention control measures had been reviewed frequently in order to protect people from the risk of transmission of COVID-19, however we found some areas of the home required deeper cleaning. The registered manager was receptive to our feedback and acted immediately to ensure all areas of the home were clean.

People were protected from the risk of abuse and neglect. Risks were managed, monitored and risk reduction measures were in place when risks were identified. People received their prescribed medicines safely. Staff were recruited safely and there were enough suitably qualified staff deployed to meet the complex needs of people. Lessons were learnt when things went wrong. The registered manager carried out in depth incident investigation and analysis to ensure people were protected from the risk of harm.

People’s complex nutritional needs were effectively managed and specialist advice and training had been sought when needed. Staff were trained and competent and care was delivered in line with best practice guidance and the law. 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.

Staff supported people in a dignified way and their privacy was respected. People and their relatives told us they were supported by kind and caring staff. Staff communicated with people respectfully in a format they could understand.

People and their relatives were involved in planning their care. The registered manager was open and honest when issues occurred, they responded and acted upon complaints in a timely manner. People were supported to spend their time undertaking their preferred activities. End of life care plans detailed peoples spiritual and cultural wishes and directed staff in how to support people who were nearing the end of their lives.

Quality assurance and monitoring systems were in place to help drive improvements at the service. The registered manager was aware of their legal responsibilities and had built excellent working relationships with health and social care professionals. Relatives told us the registered manager and individual unit managers were visible, communicated well and without exception would recommend the home to others.

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 the service under the previous provider was good, published on 9 February 2018. This provider was registered with us on 5 March 2021 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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.