Archived: Newholme House

Updated 6 February 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 is 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 3 January 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one inspector and one expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. Their area of expertise was in caring for older family members.

We reviewed all the information we had available about the service including notifications sent to us by the registered manager. Notifications are information about important events, which the provider is required to send us by law. Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). 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. This information helped us to plan what areas to focus our attention on for the inspection.

Some people at the service were unable to verbally tell us about their experience so we spent time observing the interaction they had with staff. We also looked at records relating to their day to day support so we could understand the quality of the care they received.

During the inspection, we spoke with six people who used the service and one relative. We also spoke with the provider, registered manager, the senior/administrator, three activities coordinators, and four care staff. We looked at four people's care plans and records about the staffing and management of the service.

Updated 6 February 2018

At the last inspection in October 2015, the service was rated as Good. At this inspection in January 2018 we found the service remained Good. The inspection was unannounced.

Newholme 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. Newholme House accommodated 17 people in one building which consisted of two floors.

The service has 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People told us they felt safe when receiving care and were involved in developing and reviewing their care plans. Systems were in place to protect people from abuse and harm and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding people. Risk assessments had been completed so that staff knew how to keep people and themselves safe.

There were sufficient staff with the right knowledge and skills to meet people’s needs. Staff had been recruited safely. Staff had the competence and skills to administer medicines safely and as prescribed and there was a system in place to protect people from the risks of infection. The provider recorded, reviewed and investigated incidents and accidents and took the necessary action.

People’s needs were holistically assessed and support delivered in line with current guidelines. Staff were provided with training and supervision in order for them to carry out their role effectively. People’s health needs were met as staff liaised well with health and social care professionals. People received a balanced diet which met their nutritional needs.

We made a recommendation that the provider continue to consider what improvements and modernisation may be necessary in the longer term to meet the changing needs and expectations of people who use the service.

People were supported to have 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’s end of life wishes were taken into account and care provided accordingly.

The staff were very caring, supportive and kind. They respected people's privacy and dignity. The service was responsive to people’s needs and wishes as they listened and involved them in their care. Positive relationships had been maintained. The service was meeting the Accessible Information Standard by ensuring people’s sensory and communication needs were met.

There was an effective complaints procedure in place and people and their relatives knew how to make a complaint should they need to. Systems were in place to regularly assess and monitor the quality of the service provided. Feedback from people, their relatives and staff was encouraged with regular contact and reviews of people's care. This feedback was used to make improvements to the service and was very complimentary of the service provided.