Crandon Springs Care Home

Updated 2 December 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 three inspectors, a member of the medicines team and two Experts by Experiences who made phone calls to people and their relatives. 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

Crandon Springs 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. Crandon Springs 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 not a registered manager in post. There was a new manager in post who had recently started working for the provider.

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 service improvement and safeguarding teams who work 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 spoke with 13 people who used the service and six relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 12 members of staff including the registered manager and deputy manager. We carried out observations in communal areas of the home. We requested feedback from four health and social care professionals who work with the home.

We reviewed a range of records. This included six people's care records. We checked 14 people’s medicines records and associated care records. We also looked at arrangements for administering, storing and managing medicines. We looked at three 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.

Updated 2 December 2022

About the service

Crandon Springs Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 63 people. The service provides support to older people, younger adults and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 43 people using the service. The care home is set out across two floors, which consist of four areas, Parrett Lane, Brue Walk, Sheppey Way and Whitelake.

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

People, their relatives and staff told us people were safe living at Crandon Springs Care Home. A range of health and safety checks were in place. Some areas of medicines management needed to improve. People’s care plans were of a mixed quality. People’s end of life wishes had been considered and the manager was working on these to further develop them. There were systems in place to monitor the standards of the service and action plans in place. Where the systems had not identified or addressed the shortfalls we found during the inspection the manager took immediate action to address these.

Risks to people were assessed and mitigated. Staffing had improved, a new manager had been appointed and had recently started working at the service. We received positive feedback regarding the new manager. There were appropriate infection control measures in place.

People’s mealtime experience was positive. We received some mixed feedback regarding the food. People’s healthcare needs were met and planned for. Staff received regular training; the provider had arranged for additional training for staff to meet the needs of people living with dementia. The provider and manager had plans to enhance the environment further for people living with dementia.

Staff were kind and caring and they respected people. People were supported with dignity and respect to keep their abilities and independence. 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.

People had access to a wide range of activities to keep them active, involved and stimulated. Where people preferred not to join in the activities people said they would like some one to one time with staff, we discussed this with the manager.

There were systems in place to receive feedback from people, their relatives and staff.

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

Rating at last inspection

This was the first rating for the service since the service was registered.

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.