Background to this inspection
Updated
30 December 2016
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 inspection took place on 3 and 9 November 2016 and was completed by two inspectors, a specialist advisor and an expert by experience in the care of older people. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The inspection was unannounced.
Before the inspection we reviewed previous inspection reports and notifications we had been sent by the provider. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.
We spoke with 25 people living at the home, and one health care professional. We also spoke with the provider’s director of operations, the registered manager, the deputy manager, three nursing and 11 care staff members, and ancillary staff including the administrator, maintenance staff and the chef.
We looked at care plans and associated records for 17 people and records relating to the management of the service. These included staff duty records, staff recruitment files, records of complaints, accidents and incidents, and quality assurance records. We observed care and support being delivered in communal areas and used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. Following the inspection the registered manager sent us some additional information and we have considered this when making our judgements about the service.
Updated
30 December 2016
This inspection took place on 3 and 9 November 2016 and was unannounced. Sunrise Bassett provides accommodation and personal care for up to 104 adults, including people with dementia and physical disabilities, who require nursing care. There were 71 people living at the home when we visited. The home had an Assisted Living Unit providing accommodation and communal areas on the terrace, ground and first floor. A separate Reminiscence Unit provided accommodation and communal areas on the second floor.
At the previous inspection in May 2015 we found the registered person had not ensured that people received all the nursing and health care they required. We reassessed this in May 2016 and found that whilst improvements had been made these changes were not embedded in practice and did not always ensure people received effective care. We told the provider they must take action to ensure people received effective health care. At this inspection we found that action had been taken and people were receiving effective personal and nursing care.
Also at the previous inspection in May 2015 we found that an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of services provided was not in place and that procedures to protect people’s legal rights were not followed. The provider sent us an action plan telling us how they would improve. At this inspection we found that action had been taken and effective quality monitoring systems and procedures to ensure people’s legal rights were in place.
There was a registered manager at the home. 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.
There were not always enough staff to ensure people’s needs were promptly met and call bells were not always responded to in a timely manner. Recruitment practices had not ensured that all pre-employment checks were completed before new staff commenced working in the home. Staff received appropriate training and were supported in their work.
People were positive about the service they received. They were also positive about meals and the support they received to ensure they had a nutritious diet and about the activities available. People were supported and encouraged to be as independent as possible and their dignity was promoted.
People felt safe and staff knew how to identify, prevent and report abuse. Legislation designed to protect people's legal rights was followed correctly. Staff offered people choices and respected their decisions. People and visitors’ views about the service were sought in a formal and informal way and were acted on.
Care plans provided comprehensive information about how people wished to be cared for and staff were aware of people's individual care needs and preferences. Reviews of care involving people were conducted regularly. People had access to healthcare services and were referred to doctors and specialists when needed.
Medicines were managed safely and people received these as prescribed. At the end of their life, people received appropriate care to have a comfortable, dignified and pain free death.
People and relatives were able to complain or raise issues on a formal and informal basis with the registered manager and were confident these would be resolved. This contributed to an open culture within the home. Visitors were welcomed and there were good working relationships with external professionals.
Staff worked well together, which created a relaxed and happy atmosphere that was reflected in people's care. Plans were in place to deal with foreseeable emergencies and staff had received training to manage such situations safely.
Quality assurance systems were in place using formal audits and through regular contact by the provider’s representative and registered manager with people, relatives and staff.