Stratton House

Updated 9 September 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an 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.

Stratton House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Stratton House 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage 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. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

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 (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 seven people and three visitors. We spoke with five staff including care staff, the community co-ordinator, and the registered manager. We spoke with two visiting health professionals.

Updated 9 September 2022

About the service

Stratton House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 33 people. The service provides support to older people. At the time of our inspection there were 30 people using the service.

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

People told us they felt safe. Comments included, “I do find myself feeling safe here.” Staff understood their responsibilities to protect people from harm and abuse. Risk assessments had been carried out to assess risks to people’s safety, and care plans informed staff how to keep people safe. Safe recruitment practices were in place. We received mixed feedback in relation to the number of staff on duty; however the registered manager told us they were in the process of reviewing staffing levels. Systems were in place for people to receive their medicines in a safe way. Incidents and accidents were reported and reviewed.

There was a quality assurance system in place to assess the standards of care in the service. This was overseen by the management team. Staff spoke very positively about working at the home and the people they cared for. One member of staff said, “[Registered manager] is so supportive. He encourages me, and even if he's busy he's always happy to answer any queries. If I wasn’t so supported, I would have left.” People told us the registered manager was very involved with everyone who lived at the service and that the management team as a whole were approachable. One person’s relative said, “[Registered manager] is very approachable and helpful, as are the deputy and admin managers.”

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 21 November 2019).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to safe care. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Stratton House 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.