Blackwell Care Centre

Updated 15 December 2023

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 first day of inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and an Expert by Experience. The second day was carried out by 1 inspector. 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

Blackwell Care Centre 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. Blackwell Care Centre 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 provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. A new manager had been in post since the end of June 2023 and had applied to register with us. We are currently assessing this application.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. 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 of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During the inspection we spoke with 3 people who used the service and 4 relatives. We observed how care and support was given generally. We spoke with 10 clinical and non-clinical staff involved in the direct delivery of personal and nursing care, and with 5 staff involved in other aspects of the day to day running of the service. We also spoke with the manager. We looked at a range of records including 4 people’s care records and how medicines were managed for people. We also looked at staff training, recruitment, and the provider’s quality auditing system. During the inspection visit we asked the manager to give us additional evidence about how the service was managed, which they sent to us.

Updated 15 December 2023

About the service

Blackwell Care Centre is a residential and nursing home providing personal and nursing care to up to 49 people accommodated across 2 floors of this purpose-built care home. The service provides support to younger and older people, people with a physical disability and people with a sensory impairment. At the time of our inspection there were 42 people using the service.

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

The service was not always safe. Staff did not always put their training into practice when supporting people. Accidents and incidents were not always reported. Medicines were not consistently managed safely.

There were not enough staff at night to meet people’s needs safely. Staff felt they needed more time to spend with people beyond task-focussed personal and nursing care. The provider had not consistently ensured staff had regular checks on their skills, competency, and confidence to carry out personal or nursing care.

People were not always 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; the policies and systems in the service did not support this practice.

People were not consistently involved in planning and reviewing their care, particularly where they were less able to communicate their needs. People were not consistently supported to take part in activities that were relevant or meaningful to them.

The service was not well led. The provider had not ensured they had systems and processes in place to robustly assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service. People were placed at risk because issues with the quality of care were not consistently identified. There were missed opportunities for learning and improvement of care.

Staff understood how to recognise and report concerns or abuse. The service was kept clean and people were protected from the risk of an acquired health infection. People told us the quality and variety of the food was generally good. People had access to GP, dentist services and other healthcare professionals.

People and relatives spoke positively about the staff who provided support. They felt all staff were kind, caring and hard-working. The management team and staff team understood their roles and were open and honest during our inspection.

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 outstanding (published on 22 January 2019).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about how personal and nursing care was being planned and delivered. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Blackwell Care Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to five regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report. Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

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.