Archived: The Hawthorns Care Centre

Updated 21 October 2017

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 12 and 21 September 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of an inspector and two experts by experience: one with a nursing background and one with experience of working with people living with dementia. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection, we reviewed previous inspection reports and notifications the provider had sent us. A notification is information about important events, which the service is required to send us by law. The provider had completed a Provider Information Return prior to this inspection. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We spoke with 17 people living at the home or their relatives. We also spoke with the provider's regional manager, the registered manager, the clinical manager, nine nursing or care staff and one domestic assistant, the chef and the activities coordinator. We looked at care plans and associated records for nine 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.

The service was last inspected in July 2015, where it received an overall rating of good.

Updated 21 October 2017

The Hawthorns Care Centre is a nursing home which provides accommodation for 73 people. At the time of our inspection they were providing care for 58 people. There were three floors to the home; two floors were dedicated to people with nursing needs, whilst the other floor offered residential accommodation for people who did not require nursing care.

At the last inspection on 9 and 11 July 2015, the service was rated Good overall and Requires Improvement in the ‘caring’ domain.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good overall and had made improvements in the ‘caring’ domain, which is now rated good.

The service had a registered manager. 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.

The registered manager and senior staff carried out a series of audits and checks to help ensure the quality and safety of the service. People told us the registered manager was responsive to feedback and acted quickly to resolve complaints and issues.

The provider had made adaptation to the building to make it suitable for people’s needs. This involved making the garden accessible and providing signs to help people find their way around their home.

Staff were caring and understood people’s needs. There were sufficient staff available to provide unhurried and personalised care which incorporated a wide range of activities. People’s preferences and routines were identified in their care plans. Risks to people’s safety, health or wellbeing were assessed and monitored. Staff knew people well and followed these guidelines to meet people’s needs.

Staff were aware of safeguarding procedures and the steps required in recognising and reporting abuse. Staff respected people’s dignity and privacy and were conscious of respecting people’s preferences around their end of life care. Staff understood the importance of respecting people’s choice and freedoms and worked within legal guidelines to protect these.

Staff were subject to appropriate recruitment checks and completed training which covered the key aspects of their job. The registered manager provided ongoing support and supervision to help them remain effective in their role.

People had access to healthcare services when required and the service had established a working relationship with a local GP surgery, which meant people maintained regular contact with their doctor. People followed a diet which was appropriate to their preferences and needs and were supported to take their medicines safely. The service had arrangements in place for safe storage, administration and disposal of medicines.