Background to this inspection
Updated
16 March 2018
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.
The inspection took place on 25 January 2018. It was undertaken 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.
Prior to our inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the service, including previous inspection reports. We contacted the local authority to obtain their views about the care provided. We considered the information which had been shared with us by the local authority and other people, looked at safeguarding notifications which had been submitted. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. We reviewed the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form in which we ask the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
Whilst some people were able to talk to us, others could not. During our inspection, we observed how the staff interacted with people and we spent time observing the support and care provided to help us understand their experiences of living in the service. We observed care and support in the communal areas, the midday meal, and we looked around the service. Some people were able to talk with us about the service they received but others could not. We 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.
During the inspection we reviewed the records at the service. These included staff files, which contained recruitment, training and supervision records. Also, medicine records, complaints, accidents and incidents, quality audits and policies and procedures along with information in regards to the upkeep of the premises.
We looked at five people's care documentation along with other relevant records to support our findings. We also 'pathway tracked' people living at the service. This is when we looked at their care documentation in depth and obtained information about their care and treatment at the home. It is an important part of our inspection, as it allowed us to capture information about a sample of people receiving care.
During the inspection we spoke with five people, four relatives/visitors, five staff, the registered manager and the care development manager. We observed the care which was delivered in communal areas to get a view of the care and support provided. The inspection team also spent time sitting and observing people in areas throughout the service and were able to see the interaction between people and staff. This helped us understand the experience of people who did not wish to or could not talk with us.
Updated
16 March 2018
Don Thomson House is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and personal care as a single package under a contractual agreement with the local authority, health authority or the individual, if privately funded. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Don Thomson House accommodates a maximum of 28 older people, including people who live with dementia or a dementia related condition, in one purpose built building in its own grounds. Don Thomson House is a large detached property situated in a residential area of Dovercourt, Harwich and is close to all amenities and the seafront. The premises is set out on two floors with each person using the service having their own individual bedroom and adequate communal facilities are
available for people to make use of within the service. At the time of our inspection, 25 people were using the service.
At the last inspection on 29 September 2015, the service was rated 'Good'. At this inspection, we found the service remained 'Good'.
A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Staff were clear about their role on protecting people from the risk of harm and understood their responsibilities to raise concerns. Individual risks to people and environmental risks were identified and minimised to maintain people's safety.
Systems were in place to prevent and control the risk of infection.
People were protected against the risk of abuse, as checks were made to confirm staff were of good character, and there were sufficient staff available to support them. The skill mix of staff ensured people's needs were met.
Medicines were managed safely and people were supported as needed to take their
medicine as prescribed and access healthcare services.
People were consulted regarding their preferences and interests and these were incorporated into their care plan to promote individualised care. The staff team knew people well and were provided with the right training and support to enable them to meet people's needs.
People were supported with their dietary needs and to access healthcare services to maintain good health.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff understood the importance of gaining people's consent regarding the support they received. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People were supported to develop and maintain interests and be part of the local community. The registered manager actively sought and included people and their representatives in the planning of care.
There were processes in place for people to raise any complaints and express their views and opinions about the service provided. A positive culture was in place that promoted good outcomes for people. People and their relatives were involved in developing the service; which promoted an open and inclusive culture.
The provider, registered manager and staff understood their legal responsibilities and kept up to date with relevant changes. There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service to enable the registered manager and provider to drive improvement.