Background to this inspection
Updated
8 February 2020
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
One inspector, a specialist advisor (nurse) and an Expert by Experience inspected the service. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
Bethany House 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 the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection-
We spoke with seven people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with ten members of staff including the provider, registered manager, deputy manager, a registered nurse, care workers, an activities coordinator, housekeeper, the cook and the maintenance officer.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.
Updated
8 February 2020
About the service
Bethany House is a nursing home providing personal and nursing care for up to 31 older people. At the time of the inspection there were 30 people living at the home, some of whom were living with dementia. The home is one large building with people living on two floors.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
At our last inspection people’s safety was not managed. Quality assurance systems were not robust and had failed to identify the areas of concern found. At this inspection we found we found improvement had been made.
People told us they were happy. They said, “It’s home from home here, nice and friendly.”
Medicines systems were organised, and people were receiving their medicines when they should. Minor improvements were required to records for the administration of controlled drugs and people’s food supplements. The provider was following national guidance for the receipt, storage, administration and disposal of medicines.
Staff were skilled and knowledgeable in the care and support people required. The provider had a recruitment system in place, however some long-term staff required their DBS renewing. The staff team was consistent with some staff working at the service for many years. Staff worked with family members and a range of professionals to ensure people received the care and support they required.
People told us they felt safe whilst being supported by staff. Relatives were confident family members were well cared for. There was a proactive approach to assessing and managing risk which allowed people to remain as independent as possible.
The provider promoted person-centred care which was delivered through the assessment and planning of people's individual and specific needs. Care plans were detailed and informative. They identified the specific care that people required.
People were involved in decisions about the care they received. People had 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.
People and staff had access to, and support from a management team who had improved quality monitoring of the service. People, their relatives and staff had their views on the service sought and told us if they were worried about anything they would be comfortable to talk with staff or the management team.
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 requires improvement (published 28 February 2019). 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 was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.