Background to this inspection
Updated
28 December 2023
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector and a regulatory coordinator.
Service and service type
Ella McCambridge Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as single package dependent on their registration with us. Ella McCambridge Care Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Registered Manager
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
The inspection was unannounced.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local commissioners and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 15 people who used the service and 18 relatives. We spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager, the compliance manager, 2 business support staff, 2 senior care workers, 7 staff members, the cook and we emailed the staff team.
We reviewed a range of records, which included 5 people’s care records, medicine records, staff files and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.
Updated
28 December 2023
About the service
Ella McCambridge Care Home is a care home which provides residential care for up to 67 people. The service provides support to older people and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection, 48 people were living at this service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The management team had reviewed and introduced an effective governance system. People found the new management team had made significant improvements to the home. The registered manager had been systematically resolving the issues identified at the last inspection. The management team had increased the support structures and a previous manager who had successfully worked at the home for over 20 years was helping staff to make the required improvements. All of the breaches and registration issues identified at the last inspection had been resolved.
People were happy with the care provided and felt staff went above and beyond in delivering the care. Relatives and people felt the service was delivering holistic and compassionate care, which enabled people to enjoy a good quality of life. Staff were passionate about providing good care outcomes and took ownership of their practice.
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. Staff had received a range of training around the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and work was being completed to ensure all the required capacity and 'best interests' decisions were in place.
Risk assessments were clear and identified how to reduce the risks to people. Staff were familiar with these documents and the actions they needed to take. The management team were in the process of changing to electronic care records and we discussed how enhancements could be made as staff transferred the paper records to the new system. Medicines management was effective and monitored. The registered manager was working with staff to develop a consistent approach to checking how many medicines were left each day. Staff who administered medicines had the appropriate training. Staff adhered to infection control and prevention guidance.
The management team ensured there was always enough staff to support people. Recruitment practices met legal requirements.
People were routinely engaged in a range of activities and found these stimulating. People were provided with nutritious meals and staff routinely monitored people's health and well-being. Visiting healthcare professionals reported staff appropriately contacted them and always sought guidance when needed.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was inadequate (report published 6 April 2023).
The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.
The overall rating for the service has changed from inadequate to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Ella McCambridge Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.