Archived: Sunningdales Care Home

Updated 8 July 2015

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 3 and 5 June 2015 and was unannounced. One CQC inspector visited the home on both days.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included information about incidents the provider had notified us of. We also asked the local authority who commission the service for their views on the care and service given by the home.

During the two day inspection we met all of the people living there and spoke with all of those that were able. We spoke with all visitors to the home which included four relatives and a GP. We requested written feedback from GP’s on their views of the care provided at the home. We spoke with the manager and all five members of the care staff on duty during our inspection. Because some people living in the home were living with dementia and were not able to tell us about their experiences we used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific method of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We observed how people were supported and looked at three people’s care, treatment and support records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service including staff recruitment and training records and premises maintenance records.

Updated 8 July 2015

This unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on 3 and 5 June 2015.

Sunningdales Care Home provides accommodation, care and support for up to 10 older people. At the time of the inspection there were ten people living at the home. A registered manager was in position. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.’

Our previous inspection of the home on 19 May 2014 identified two breaches of the regulations relating to; care and welfare of people and the completion of people’s personal records.

We told the provider that they must make improvements to protect people from the risks of unsafe care and asked them to send us an action plan stating what improvements they would make. We received the action plan on 20 June 2014.

At this inspection we found the provider had made the required improvements.

People told us they felt safe at the home. Staff knew how to identify, prevent and report abuse. People were relaxed with members of staff and told us they found the staff to be friendly, helpful and very kind. People were supported in accordance with their wishes and their privacy was protected. People received personal care and support in a personalised way. Staff knew people well and understood their physical and personal care needs, treating them with dignity and respect.

Medicines were stored securely, administered, managed and disposed of safely.

People’s needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered to meet their needs. Records showed an assessment of need had been carried out to ensure risks to people’s health were managed. Risks of people falling or developing pressure injuries were managed effectively. People and their relatives were fully involved in assessing and planning the care and support they received. People were referred to health care professionals as required. Equipment such as hoists and pressure relieving mattresses and cushions were readily available, well maintained and used safely by staff in accordance with people’s risk assessments.

There was a system in place to ensure staff received their required training courses and refresher training as required. Staff were knowledgeable about their role and spoke positively regarding the induction and training they received.

There was a very stable staff team and there were enough skilled and appropriately trained staff to meet people’s needs. Staff felt very well supported by the management team and received regular supervision sessions and appraisals.

The manager was aware of their responsibilities in regard to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). These safeguards aim to protect people living in care homes and hospitals from being inappropriately deprived of their liberty. These safeguards can only be used when there is no other way of supporting a person safely.

Staff sought consent from people before providing care and followed relevant legislation to protect people’s rights and ensure decisions were made in their best interests.

Staff ensured people’s privacy was protected and they were cared for with compassion and kindness. People received personalised care from staff who were responsive to their needs and knew them very well. Staff created a relaxed atmosphere which resulted in a calm and happy culture in the home.

People knew how to make a complaint and felt confident they would be listened to if they needed to raise concerns or queries. The provider sought feedback from people and changes were made if required.

People told us they had confidence in the management team and felt the service was well led. People spoke positively about the management team and praised the care staff stating, “Everyone here has been excellent, they are all fantastic”.

There was a process in place to ensure improvements were made in regard to the safety and quality of the service provided.