Archived: Castle Hill House

Updated 14 June 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 checked 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.

This inspection took place on 9 and 11 May 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector and one expert by experience. The expert by experience spoke with people who used the service and their relatives by telephone. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service, including statutory notifications submitted about key events that occurred at the service. We also reviewed the information included in the 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.

During the inspection we spoke with seven staff, the home manager and the registered manager. We spoke with five people and four relatives/friends of people about their views on the quality of the care and support being provided. Some people using the service were unable to speak with us, therefore we observed interactions between staff and people using the service. We also spoke to one healthcare professional and one social care professional about their views on the quality of the care and support being provided.

We looked at care documentation relating to four people, records of social activities and support from staff, eight people’s medicines administration records, four staff personnel files, staff training records and records relating to the management of the service including quality audits.

Updated 14 June 2018

This inspection took place on 9 and 11 May 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector and an expert by experience.

Castle Hill House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and 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.

Castle Hill House accommodates up to 30 older people. At the time of our inspection there were 15 people living at the home.

There was a registered manager in place. 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.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good overall. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People continued to feel safe. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities to safeguard people from the risk of harm and risks to people were assessed and monitored regularly.

The premises continued to be appropriately maintained to support people to stay safe. Staff understood how to prevent and manage behaviours that the service may find challenging.

Staffing levels ensured that people's care and support needs were continued to be met safely and safe recruitment processes continued to be in place.

CQC is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). DoLS applications had been made to ensure that people were only deprived of their liberty, when it had been assessed as lawful to do so. Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how to support people's best interest if they lacked capacity.

The service was maintained and decorated. Staff supported people to access some parts of the home that people could not access independently.

People's needs and choices continued to be assessed and their care provided in line with up to date guidance and best practice. They received care from staff that had received training and support to carry out their roles.

Risks continued to be assessed and recorded by staff to protect people. There were systems in place to monitor incidents and accidents. There were arrangements in place for the service to make sure that action was taken and lessons learned when things went wrong, to improve safety across the service.

The service worked with other organisations to ensure that people received coordinated and person-centred care and support.

Medicines continued to be managed safely. The processes in place ensured that the administration and handling of medicines were suitable for the people who used the service.

Staff were caring and compassionate. People were treated with dignity and respect and staff ensured their privacy was maintained. People were encouraged to make decisions about how their care was provided.

Staff had a good understanding of people's needs and preferences.

The service had an open culture which encouraged communication and learning. People, relatives and staff were encouraged to provide feedback about the service and it was used to drive improvement.

There were policies in place that ensured people would be listened to and treated fairly if they complained about the service.

Quality assurance audits were carried out to identify any shortfalls within the service and how the service could improve.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.