Archived: St Annes' Private Nursing Home

Updated 17 December 2015

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on 27 October and 3 November 2015 and was completed by one inspector.

Before our inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included information about incidents the provider had notified us of. We also asked the local authority who commission the service for their views on the care and service given by the home.

During the two day inspection we met all 16 people who lived at the home and spoke to those who were able to. We also spoke with the owner, the manager, a GP, three visiting relatives, and four members of care staff. We observed how people were supported and looked in depth at three people’s care and support records.

We also looked at records relating to the management of the service including; staffing rota’s, incident and accident records, training records, recruitment records for three members of staff, meeting minutes and all of the medication administration records.

We reviewed the service’s Provider Information Return (PIR) before our inspection. This is a form that asks the provider to give us some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they planned to make.

Updated 17 December 2015

This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection carried out on 27 October and 3 November 2015.

St Annes’ Private Nursing Home provides accommodation, personal care and nursing care for up to 18 older people. At the time of the inspection 16 people were living at the home. The home had a registered manager in post. 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.’

People told us they felt safe living in the home. The provider had suitable processes in place to safeguard people from different forms of abuse. Staff had completed training in safeguarding people and were knowledgeable about the different types of abuse and knew the correct process for raising concerns if they should observe any form of abuse.

There was a system in place to ensure accidents and incidents were recorded and analysed. This meant any trends and patterns could be identified and preventative measures put in place where required. Incidents and accidents were regularly discussed at staff meetings and staff were encouraged to share their views on how to address any concerns.

The provider had a range of systems in place to protect people from risks to their safety. These included premises and maintenance checks, regular servicing and checks for equipment such as hoists, stair lifts and all electrical equipment and risk assessments for each person living in the home.

Medicines were managed safely and stored securely. People received their medicines as prescribed by their GP. Records showed staff responsible for administering medicines had received formal medicines training to ensure they were confident and competent to give medication to people.

There were enough appropriately trained staff available on each shift to ensure people were cared for safely. Staff spent time talking and interacting with all the people in the home, knew their health needs well and told us they had enough time to do their job effectively. Staff were recruited safely in accordance with current regulations.

The provider had a system in place to ensure staff received their required training courses. Records showed the manager required re-fresher training in the topics of health and safety and infection control. Staff were knowledgeable about their role and spoke positively regarding the induction and training they received from the provider. Staff told us they were well supported by the management team who they found very approachable and stated were always ready to listen or help if required.

The provider had a system in place to ensure staff understood their responsibilities in regard to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The DoLS are part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. They aim to make sure that people in care homes are looked after in a way that does not inappropriately restrict their freedom. The safeguards should ensure that a care home only deprives someone of their liberty in a safe and correct way, and that this is only done when it is in the best interests of the person and there is no other way to look after them. DoLS applications were correctly completed and submitted to the local authority.

People had access to a range of health care professionals to help maintain their health. A varied and nutritious diet was available for people, which took into account their dietary needs and preferences so that their health was promoted and choices respected.

People told us they knew who to speak to if they had any concerns and felt confident they would be listened to.

There were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. Regular checks and audits were undertaken to make sure full and safe procedures were adhered to. People’s views on the service were regularly sought with any improvements needed, actioned where possible.