Solent Mead Care Home

Updated 2 February 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 inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. 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

Solent Mead 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. Solent Mead 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 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 a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 2 people and a relative and spent time in communal areas observing people being supported. We spoke with the registered manager, wellbeing coordinator, a senior member of the care team, and two care staff. We reviewed a range of records, including support plans and care records for 3 people. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including staff supervision, risk assessments, and quality assurance records. We received feedback from 3 relatives and 2 professionals.

Updated 2 February 2023

About the service

Solent Mead is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 35 people. The service provides support to older people, some of whom may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 20 people using the service.

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

Feedback we received from people, their relatives, and health professionals was positive. People were well treated and supported to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their care. Staff respected and promoted people’s privacy, dignity and independence. People’s care plans focused on them as individuals and provided care staff with the information to support them in providing personalised care. Relatives told us, “The staff are incredibly friendly” and, “They’re a very caring bunch.” A health professional told us, “I have always found the staff at Solent Mead to be incredibly caring, and sensitive to the needs of the residents.”

The provider and registered manager promoted a positive and inclusive culture that achieved good outcomes for people. Managers and staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities. The service sought and used feedback in order to learn and continuously improve care and worked well in partnership with others. A person told us, “Management couldn’t be better” and a relative said, "There is a lovely atmosphere in the home.” A health professional told us, “Overall, I would say that this service is very well-led, and the staff are very caring. This home is a pleasure to work with.”

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.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was good (published 14 May 2019).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to how the service was managed and this having an impact on people’s care. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of caring and well-led only. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern.

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.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

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

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.