Background to this inspection
Updated
29 January 2019
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.
The inspection took place on 2 and 3 January 2019. The inspection was completed by one adult social care inspector.
Some people living at the home had limited verbal communication and were unable to engage in the inspection. We therefore spent time observing staff interactions with people and saw how people spent their time. We used the principles of 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.
Before our inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the service. We reviewed notifications of incidents that the provider had sent us since their registration. A notification is information about important events, which the service is required to send us by law. We reviewed the information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return, dated 11 May 2018. 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.
During our inspection, we spoke with four people using the service, five people’s family members, eight staff members, the registered manager, and provider. We looked at eight records, which related to people’s individual care needs and medicines management. We viewed two staff recruitment files, and records associated with the management of the service. This included people’s and staff feedback. We received feedback from one health care professional with knowledge of the service.
Updated
29 January 2019
Swimbridge House Nursing Home 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.
Swimbridge House Nursing Home accommodates a maximum of 30 people in one adapted building. An extension to the building was under construction. There were 29 people resident at the time of the inspection.
The inspection took place on 2 and 3 January 2019. It was unannounced.
At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
Why the service is rated good.
People felt safe. They knew staff were available to meet their needs and respond in a timely manner. Recruitment arrangements ensured only staff suitable to work with older people, and meeting the service’s standards, were recruited.
Staff had a good understanding of how to protect people from abuse and discrimination. They were aware that any concerns could be taken to the registered manager and the local authority safeguarding adults’ team.
The premises were clean, hygienic and maintained to a safe standard.
Medicines were managed in people’s best interest.
Risk was understood and managed in a least restrictive way. The overview of accidents and incidents helped to reduce any risk.
People enjoyed the food and their nutritional needs were met.
People’s health care needs were fully understood and met. External health care expertise was sought appropriately.
Staff received training, supervision and support to help them in their role. They were encouraged to progress if this was what they wanted.
People’s legal rights were understood and protected. Where people lacked capacity to make informed decisions these were made in their best interest.
Policies, procedures, staff training and delivery of care promoted people’s wellbeing regardless of disability, age and other factors which might put them at a disadvantage to others.
Staff were caring, kind and compassionate. They treated people with respect and upheld their dignity. People’s views were always sought.
People had an in-depth assessment of their needs and wishes. Care plans were detailed, complete and enabled staff to understand important aspects of the person they were caring for.
Shared activities were enjoyed and staff looked for ways to provide meaningful activities to people.
Complaints were considered a way to continually improve the service.
The registered manager and provider were committed to people’s care and welfare. The quality of the service was closely monitored. Staff said they were proud to work at Swimbridge House Nursing Home.