Background to this inspection
Updated
10 August 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 was 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 31 July 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by three inspectors.
Before the inspection we reviewed the evidence we had about the service. This included any notifications of significant events, such as serious injuries or safeguarding referrals. Notifications are information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. The provider had returned a Provider Information Return (PIR) in 2015. 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.
Prior to our inspection we contacted seven health and social care professionals to obtain their views on the service. We received feedback from three and have included their comments in our report.
During the inspection we spoke with 13 people who lived at the home and one relative. We spoke with 10 staff, which included the registered manager, activities, catering staff and the provider.
We looked at the care records of six people, including their assessments, care plans and risk assessments. We looked at how medicines were managed and the records relating to this. We looked at three staff recruitment files and other records relating to staff support and training. We also checked records used to monitor the quality of the service, such as the provider’s own audits of different aspects of the service. We asked the registered manager to send us some further information, following our inspection, such as staff training and supervision records, minutes of meetings and evidence of activities. They did so within the agreed timeframe.
Updated
10 August 2018
Springfield House is a care home with nursing that is registered to provide accommodation and nursing care for up to 27 older people. 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 home is set out over three floors with easy access between floors via a lift. There are two lounge and dining areas for people to use.
This unannounced inspection took place on 31 July 2018. At the time of our inspection 21 people were living in the home.
There was a registered manager in post. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager assisted us with our inspection.
This was the first inspection of this service under the new provider arrangements. We carried out this inspection to check that the service was meeting all the requirements of regulation and providing good and safe care to people. We found that it was and we identified no concerns that would indicate people were not being cared for appropriately.
People’s care plans were detailed and where a person’s needs changed staff responded to this. However, we found some records relating to people were not contemporaneous, although staff knew people’s care needs well. We have made a recommendation to the registered provider in this respect.
People received the medicines that were prescribed for them and medicines storage followed good practice. There were a sufficient number of staff on duty, who had been recruited through a robust recruitment process to care for people. People were safeguarded from abuse as staff understood their responsibility in this respect.
People were cared for by staff who were kind, caring, attentive and showed respect towards them. People were encouraged to be independent and they could make decisions about their care. Where there were restrictions in place staff followed the principals of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). People’s consent was sought at every stage.
People were cared for by a consistent staff team who had access to the training and supervision they required in order to carry out their role in a competent manner. Staff worked together as a team and the culture within the service was good. Staff met on a regular basis to discuss all aspects of the service and staff had the opportunity to meet with the line manager to discuss their work.
Staff ensured people had access to health care professionals when they needed it. People could choose the foods they ate and where people had a particular dietary requirement these were recognised by staff.
Where people had accidents or incidents staff took appropriate action and as such reflected on incidents to aid their learning. Risks to people had been identified and guidance was in place for staff. Before people moved into the home their needs were assessed to ensure staff could provide effective, safe and responsive care. The home was clean with no malodours and equipment was provided for people when they needed it, such as a hoist or walking frame.
In the event of a fire there was fire information available for staff and the emergency services and regular checks on the health and safety aspect of the service were carried out.
People were given the opportunity to give their feedback and staff actively sought suggestions from people. People had access to a range of activities and were happy with the care they received from staff. They told us if they had any concerns or complaints the would know who to speak to.
The registered manager had developed relationships with other local and national external agencies to improve the care people received at the service.