Background to this inspection
Updated
4 March 2022
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.
As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.
This inspection took place on 27th January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours notice of the inspection.
Updated
4 March 2022
This inspection took place on the 30 and 31 January 2018 and was unannounced.
We found two breaches of legal requirement at the last inspection in October 2016 relating to incomplete care records and medicine management. Following the last inspection, we asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve the key questions Safe and Responsive to at least good. The provider had followed their action plan which they said would be completed on 9 February 2017. We found there were improvements to the care plans and the medicine management. People had received their medicines as prescribed. However, further improvements were needed to ensure people’s medicines would always be managed in accordance with current best practice. We have made a recommendation that the service consider current guidance on medicine management
The Steppes 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 Steppes accommodates 29 people in two adapted adjacent houses. There were 28 people accommodated when we visited. Ten people were accommodated in The Lodge and 18 people in The Steppes main house.
At our last inspection we rated the service Requires Improvement. At this inspection we found the service was rated Good.
There was a registered manager. 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.
We found improvements had been made to people’s care plans. There was a new detailed care planning system and people’s individual care was recorded and reviewed monthly to ensure they were safe and well. Staff knew what people valued and how they liked to be supported. Healthcare professionals supported people when required.
We found improvements to infection control in the laundry. There was a new sluice room and staff ensured infection control procedures were followed.
People lived in a safe and well maintained home and staff knew how to keep people safe. People told us they felt the home was safe. Staff were trained to identify and report any safety concerns. People were supported by staff that were well trained and had regular supervision to support their personal development.
People were treated with kindness and compassion and we observed staff engaged with people positively to support their wellbeing. People were treated with respect and they were supported to be independent. They were able to make choices and decisions and staff supported them.
People had a range of activities to choose from which included exercise classes, arts and crafts, musical entertainments, bingo and walks into town. There were links with the local community with trips out regularly organised.
The services quality assurance systems had improved. Regular audits had been completed and action plans ensured improvements were made. People and their relatives completed surveys about the home and action was taken to improve the service.