Archived: Spring Cottage

Updated 6 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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Spring Cottage 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. The registered manager was also a partner in the provider for the service, 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 on day one. We told the provider we would be visiting on day two.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service, including notifications for events the provider is required to tell us about. We sought feedback from the local authority and commissioners who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. 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. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who use the service and six relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, manager, deputy manager and three care workers. We spoke with a healthcare professional visiting the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care and medicine records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and two staff supervision and appraisal records. We reviewed a ranged of records relating to the management of the service, including health and safety records and quality assurance checks.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and a sample of the provider’s policies and procedures. We spoke with the fire service.

Updated 6 February 2020

About the service

Spring Cottage is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 16 older people. 16 people were living at the service at the time of our inspection. The care home consists of one adapted building and a bungalow, providing accommodation for two people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The provider had not always made improvements and applied learning following the last inspection to address previous breaches in regulation. The provider’s systems and policies were not always followed to identify areas for improvement and take action accordingly. There was a risk of people being put at risk of avoidable harm due to shortfalls in the governance arrangements.

The provider had not always followed its own policy and procedure to ensure staff were always recruited safely and to ensure health and safety checks were robustly completed to keep the service safe.

Staff were aware of risks to people. People felt safe living at the service.

People received effective care following a period of assessment at the service. They were supported by consistent members of staff who knew their wishes, needs and preferences. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People felt at home at the service. Relatives felt welcome when they visited. People shared bonds with staff who were kind and respectful towards them and respected their privacy.

Care was person-centred and focused on the needs and wishes of each person. People continued to remain part of their local communities.

People and their relatives felt able to speak openly with the registered manager about any issues and that these would be addressed.

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 04 December 2018) and there were multiple breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection not enough improvement had been made and the provider was still in breach of regulations. The service remains rated requires improvement. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last two consecutive inspections.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to staffing, fit and proper persons employed and good governance at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will meet with the provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.