Archived: Hazel Court Nursing Home

A single inspector carried out this inspection. The focus of the inspection was to answer five key questions; is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Below is a summary of what we found.

If you want to see the evidence that supports our summary please read the full report.

Is the service safe?

The provider had an effective system in place to report and investigate safeguarding concerns. People were being cared for in an environment that was safe.

Is the service effective?

Relatives were involved in care plan reviews where people did not have the capacity to understand decisions related to their care and treatment. Care plans were current and reflected people's individual needs and choices. We found that staff did not have up to date training which meant they may not be able to support people effectively.

Is the service caring?

We observed staff treating people with respect and offering them choices. They engaged with people and were familiar with the needs of people they were caring for.

Is the service responsive?

Where people did not have the capacity to understand decisions relating to their care we saw that best interest meetings were held to protect their rights. Advocacy support was provided to people that needed it.

Is the service well-led?

A new manager had recently been appointed at the home. Staff and relatives that we spoke with felt supported and involved in the running of the home.

We looked at staff files and saw that care staff had participated in training staff in dementia care awareness and the Gold Standard Framework for End of Life Care, a standard of care for people approaching the end of their lives. Staff were able to describe the difference kinds of support that each person needed and confirmed that they had received training in dementia awareness, moving and handling and pressure care.

We gathered evidence of people's experience of the service by speaking with relatives and reviewing records. A relative of one person living at the home told us that their relative was well cared for and safe living at the home. They told us that they trusted staff to provide good care and they could speak to staff if they had concerns. One relative told us: "if my husband has any kind of incident, no matter how small, if he stubbed his toe, the staff would contact me and explain what happened".

Nursing staff were able to describe and demonstrate the procedures for the receipt and monitoring of medications. We were also shown the procedure for storage and recording of medicines administered. Blister packs and medicine recording sheets were seen and found to be accurate and up to date.

The provider may wish to note that commitment of the current staff team and the acting manager are managing to ensure the continued safety and care of people at Hazel Court. However, without active involvement and support from senior management and a clear action plan to address the current situation may not be sustainable.