Camelot Care Homes Ltd

Updated 25 April 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.

Inspection team

This inspection was undertaken by three inspectors and an assistant inspector.

Service and service type

Camelot Care Homes Ltd 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. Camelot Care Home Ltd is a care home with 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 the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection

During the inspection

During the inspection, we spoke to 7 people, 3 relatives and 13 members of staff including two directors, the registered manager, nursing and care staff, catering and housekeeping staff, activities and maintenance staff and the administrator. We gained feedback from one visiting professional. We reviewed 12 care plans and 11 medicine administration records. We undertook a visual inspection of the premises and considered documentation related to the management of the home. This included accidents and incidents, staff recruitment and training, complaints and quality auditing.

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.

Updated 25 April 2023

About the service

Camelot Care Homes Ltd provides accommodation and nursing care for 57 older people in two adapted buildings. People have their own rooms and share communal areas such as lounges, dining rooms and bathrooms. Outdoor space is an enclosed courtyard area. At the time of our inspection there were 40 people living at the service.

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

Since our last inspection improvements had been made in some areas and the service is no longer rated inadequate overall. However, further improvement was required. For example, risks had not been identified regarding distressed behaviours people experienced. There were no care plans to ensure people were supported safely and consistently at these times.

Daily records did not always show what support people were given. this included food and fluids intake, re-positioning and when people were experiencing distress.

Quality auditing systems remained an area for development and were not always used effectively to identify errors, shortfalls and drive improvement. Governance systems in place had not identified concerns found during this inspection. Some CQC notifications had not been sent without delay.

People were not always supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did not always support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service did not always support this practice.

Improvements had been made to the way people were treated. Interactions observed were kind, respectful and attentive.

Improvements had been made to the management of complaints. People and their relatives told us they knew how to raise concerns and felt comfortable to do so.

Improvements had been made with staff offering people choices, and their rights to privacy and dignity were maintained. People and their relatives were complimentary about the staff.

Equipment had been checked or serviced to ensure it was safe and contractors were being sought to undertake work identified in the updated fire risk assessment.

Improvements had been made to infection prevention and control measures and the overall cleanliness within the home.

There were enough staff to support the number of people currently living at the home. The registered manager told us more staff would be recruited as occupancy further increased. Staff told us they were well supported and received a range of training.

People’s needs were assessed prior to them being offered a placement at the home.

The environment had been improved, with no malodours. Some areas had been redecorated and some carpets had been replaced.

People looked well cared for and they, and their relatives, were happy with the care provided. Social activities were arranged, and people were encouraged to have visitors at any time.

People, their relatives and staff were encouraged to give their views about the service. They said the registered manager listened and was happy to implement any ideas suggested.

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 inspection for this service was in November 2022. It was a targeted inspection to follow up on a warning notice for good governance, but not rated. The last rating for this service was inadequate (published 05 September 2022) and there were breaches of regulations. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made but the provider remained in breach of regulations.

This service has been in Special Measures since 02 August 2022 and remains in special measures.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

The overall rating for the service has changed from inadequate to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

At this inspection we found the provider remained in breach of regulations.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

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

Enforcement and recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to safe care and treatment, safeguarding people from the risk of abuse, person-centred care and good governance. We have made one recommendation about recording for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) recording.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.