Winters Park Care Home

Updated 11 May 2021

The inspection

This was a targeted inspection to check specific concerns we had about risks to people’s safety not being well-managed.

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.

Service and service type

Winters Park is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

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 received feedback from the local authority, infection prevention and control (IPC) health professionals and the Local Government Ombudsman. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service about their experience of the care provided and observed staff providing care. We spoke with the registered manager and reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and records relating to the management of the safety, including clinical risk reports and infection control audits.

Updated 11 May 2021

The inspection of this service took place on 28 November 2017 and was unannounced.

Between the inspection of this service and the publication of this inspection report, the registration has been transferred from Bupa Care Homes Limited to HC-One Oval Limited.

Winters Park is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Winters Park accommodates 41 people, some of whom may be living with dementia, in one adapted building.

There is a registered manager at the service, who was in attendance throughout our inspection visit.

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.

We found that personal records had been stored securely. The records we viewed did not consistently give an accurate account of people’s care and support needs. However, health and social care professionals commented that care records had been completed to a high standard and that staff always appeared warm, welcoming and always engaged well with people living at Winters Park and visitors. People told us that they had been involved in the development of their care plans and staff were able to give us a verbal account of people’s care needs and we observed them supporting people. No one raised any concerns with us about the support they received from staff. Medicines were mostly managed in a safe way. We did observe some poor practices with regards to recording the use of creams and ointments.

We have made a recommendation about keeping written records up to date and accurate.

There were times when staffing levels had not been sufficiently maintained. We received both positive and negative comments about staffing levels. The registered manager was reviewing staffing at the home. Staff had been provided with appropriate training to help keep their skills and knowledge up to date. However, we found that there were limited opportunities for staff to meet regularly with their line manager to discuss their work and performance.

We have made a recommendation about staff support and supervision.

The home was maintained to a good standard and the registered manager was aware of where improvements needed to be made. Refurbishment plans had been put on hold as the service was in the process of being sold to a new provider. People who used the service were able to personalise their own rooms as they chose. The home was clean, tidy and there were no unpleasant odours. Staff were mindful of good practices around the control and prevention of infection.

The home does not normally admit people living with dementia. However, there were some long term people who had developed dementia illness. We have suggested that the provider considers making some environmental adaptations in order to help meet the needs of people living with dementia.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Everyone that we spoke with during our inspection of Winters Park were very complimentary about the staff and the service they received. We did not receive any concerns or complaints about the service during or immediately after our inspection. We noticed that people looked well-groomed and well cared for. Staff approached people in a friendly manner and showed respect for people’s privacy and dignity. A variety of meaningful activities were available at the home and within the local community. People were supported to access health and social care professionals if they wished and family members told us that they were kept up to date if their relative was unwell.

People were generally well supported with their nutritional needs. Where nutritional concerns had been identified, we found that advice from the dietician and speech and language therapist had been sought. However, people who needed help to eat and drink did not always receive the support they needed. This was due to either insufficient numbers of staff on duty or the poor deployment of staff at mealtimes. We have asked the registered manager to review this matter.

There were systems and procedures in place to help ensure people living at the home were protected against the risks of harm or abuse and of being cared for by inappropriate staff. People were aware of the complaints process at the home and knew who to direct any concerns to. People were able to have their say about the service provided. Everyone that we spoke to was confident that any concerns would be listened to and acted upon quickly.

The service had a system in place to assess and monitor the quality and safety of the service. Where shortfalls in the service had been identified, action plans had been developed to address these matters. Although most of the shortfalls in quality and safety had been addressed, we have made some recommendations where further improvements should be made.