We carried out a review of the data available to us about Cambridge House Care Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Cambridge House Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
Cambridge House is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 15 people. The service provides support to older people and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 15 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Improvements were required to ensure the provider’s systems for quality monitoring was working in accordance with government and best practice guidance.
People told us they felt safe and were able to speak with staff or the registered manager if they were worried about anything. Staff received safeguarding training and demonstrated their understanding on the prevention and reporting of abuse. People received their medicines safely by staff who were trained and competent to administer them. Staff practiced good infection control to protect people from the COVID-19 pandemic. Risks to people’s health and the environment were assessed and managed safely.
People and their relatives were involved in the planning and reviews of their care. People were asked for their opinion of the service and had choices in support they received. One person told us, “I like to get up by eight at the latest.” They confirmed their wishes were respected.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. When people declined support, staff respected their decisions but provided gentle encouragement. One staff member said, “If someone declines care, we tend to leave them for a while and go back to see if we can help, we explain to them when helping during personal care and encourage people to do as much as they can for themselves.”
People and their relatives gave positive feedback about the staff and the services provided. One person told us, “The staff talk to us. You feel you know them.” A relative said, “Cambridge House has been brilliant. You couldn’t wish for anything better.”
People lived in an environment which supported their needs. Dementia friendly signage was in place to support people’s orientation of the building. People had access to activities and music suited to their tastes.
People were appropriately referred where health and social care professional advice was needed. The registered manager and staff worked closely with professionals to improve people’s care, safety and well-being. One healthcare professional told us, “They are a lovely home and the staff moved in at the beginning of the pandemic, they were on a rota basis, this was pretty amazing for staff to have done this. They seem very caring and put the residents first.”
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Why we inspected
This is the first inspection for this newly registered service.
Enforcement & Recommendations
We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.
We have made a recommendation about quality assurance processes.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
We found the following examples of good practice.
The service had appropriate procedures in place for visiting, including checking of COVID-19 passports for visiting professionals.
The registered manager has facilitated visits for people safely and regularly during the pandemic.
The service was clean and tidy throughout. There were robust cleaning schedules inclusive of high touch point areas, to promote safe infection control practices.
Staff had received all appropriate infection prevention and control training. This included the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and donning and doffing safely. Staff were observed to be wearing PPE correctly.
The registered manager had managed risks to people from outbreaks through appropriate isolation and separation of areas within the service.