Upminster Nursing Home

Updated 14 December 2019

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 team consisted of an inspector, inspection manager 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.

Service and service type

Upminster Nursing Home is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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. 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.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection and sought feedback from the local authority who commissioned the home's services. Due to technical problems, the provider did not send us the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We observed how staff provided care and communicated with people. We spoke with six people who used the service and six relatives. We spoke with four care staff, an activities' co-ordinator, a housekeeper, a cook, maintenance person, a manager, the registered manager and the managing director. We reviewed a range of records. These discussions helped us understand how the service was being run and what it was like to work there.

We reviewed a range of records. These included five people's care records and records relating to staff recruitment, training and supervision. We also looked at information relating to the management of the service, including the provider's policies and procedures, people's medicine administration records (MARs) and quality assurance records.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate the evidence found during the inspection. We looked at training data, quality improvement information and fire safety information.

Updated 14 December 2019

About the service

Upminster Nursing Home is a residential home providing personal and nursing care for up to 37 people. The service is provided in one purpose-built building. Bedrooms are on four floors and are accessible by a passenger lift. Communal lounges and a dining area are on the ground floor, but each bedroom has a hand wash basin and a toilet. At the time of our inspection 31 people were living at the service.

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

People felt safe in the service. There were systems in place to assess and manage risks to people. Staff understood adult safeguarding procedures, which meant any potential or real incidents of abuse were appropriately reported.

There were enough staff to meet people's needs. Staff recruitment processes were robust ensuring staff were safe to work with people and had the necessary skills to provide care. Staff were provided with ongoing support, training, supervision and annual appraisals.

Medicines were managed safely. This meant people received their medicines as prescribed by their doctors. The service was clean and there were systems in place to manage the risk of infections. Records of accidents and incidents were kept and, where appropriate, lessons were learnt to improve the service.

People's care plans were detailed with information on their needs and how they wanted to be supported. An electronic device staff used to record and update people's care was useful in helping the service keep and monitor people's care records. Staff were kind and caring.

People and relatives felt the food was good. The service ensured people had access to healthcare professionals. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were given privacy when they wished it but were also enabled to move around freely and independently in a safe way.

Quality assurance checks were carried out to help ensure people lived in a service that was safe. The registered manager sought feedback from people, relatives and staff and this was used to help improve the service. Complaints were managed appropriately .Staff worked with other agencies to help improve the service.

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 on 15 May 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.