The Care Quality Commission

Archived: Southwell Court Care Home

Racecourse Road, Crew Lane, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, NG25 0TX (01636) 815599

Provided and run by:
Millennium Health Care Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

30 May 2013

During a routine inspection

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who used the service. We looked at records. Spoke with four people who lived at the service and one visitor. We spoke with the registered manager and three members of staff. We also observed how staff interacted and supported people who used the service.

People told us that the care staff obtained their consent before any interventions were performed. One person told us, 'All the staff are very good. They respect me and my opinions.'

We found that people were provided with a good choice and variety of food and drink that met their individual needs.

One person using the service told us, 'The food is excellent and plenty of it. Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables which is nice.'

We found that the provider had ensured that staff received training in the use of equipment such as mobility aids to ensure they adhered to safe practises. People who used the service felt the care staff were competent in the use of the equipment.

We found that the organisation had an effective recruitment process in place which adhered to current legislative requirements.

Procedures were in place to review care plans on a frequent basis. We found the procedures had not been followed in all instances which could compromise the safety of people residing at the home.

13 December 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

The purpose of this review was to assess the improvements made since our last inspection. We did not request information directly from people using the service on this occasion.

Records, examined on the day of our inspection showed that people's care and treatment was implemented as required and that their plans had been reviewed regularly to ensure that changes in people's needs had been addressed.

We also found that the staffing levels had increased and there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet people's needs.

Overall, we found that the provider had taken sufficient action to address the shortfalls we had identified at our previous inspection.

14 August 2012

During a routine inspection

On this occasion the majority of our inspection focussed on the care provided to people who were accommodated on the third floor. This was a secure unit for older people with dementia. People living in this unit had limited verbal communication skills and were not able to fully express their experiences of the service therefore we also spoke with three people who were visiting their relatives to glean additional information about the quality of service provision.

Relatives of people who used the service told us that they had received the necessary support and information about the home before their relatives had moved in. They also told us that they had been involved in the formation of their relatives' care plans and told us that they could see the care plans at any time.

They also told us that they felt that their relatives' respect and dignity was maintained by the staff employed at the home and felt that people were safe within the homes environment but expressed concerns about the staffing levels on some occasions.'I have no concerns at all about the home apart from the staffing levels which would benefit from being increased,' and, 'All the staff are very good but they are so rushed and appear exhausted at times.'

Relatives of people who used the service told us that they felt that they were fully consulted about any developments within the home and felt confident that the acting manager would address any concerns or issues they might have in relation to the quality of service provision.

24 May 2011

During an inspection looking at part of the service

On the day of our visit to Southwell Court there were 67 people living at the care home.

We spoke with three people who live at Southwell Court. All three told us that there had been some changes recently, and that some staff had left, and new ones had come in their place. One person told us that: 'The staff appear much happier, and the atmosphere is a lot more relaxed.' We asked about the quality of care that people were receiving, and we were told by all three people that they were quite happy and satisfied.

We asked two people who live at Southwell Court about staffing levels, and whether they thought there were enough staff. Both people told us that there were times when the staffing levels were not sufficient, and one person said: 'I often have to wait, sometimes quite a long time, and the staff do seem very busy, so you don't like to complain.'

24 May 2011

During an inspection in response to concerns

We spoke with three people who live at Southwell Court. One person said that: 'The staff were very good, and very caring. However it was best when staff who knew the residents worked with them.' A second person said that: 'they were very happy, the staff were very kind, and that they had everything that they needed.' The third person also felt that: 'the home was very good, although they felt that it was not as 'happy' as it had been in the past. They put this down to staff changes and different ways of working,' and added that 'a lot of staff had left recently, and she didn't think this was very good.'

We asked the same three people if they felt safe, or had any concerns about the care they were receiving. In each case the person said they felt safe. Although concerns were raised by two people about staffing, particularly staffing levels and one person said they had specific concerns about the number of staff who have left, or are leaving. Discussions with people who live at the home about staff training and the home's policies and procedures showed that people were unaware of these issues, with one person saying: 'I don't know anything about that, although the staff do seem to have quite a bit of training, I couldn't tell you what it was about.'

We spoke with one person who uses the service about the support that they received from staff in relation to medication. They confirmed that they were happy with the arrangements for medicines and staff gave them support and help when needed.

Consistently we heard from both people who live at the care home and relatives that they were concerned about staffing levels, as a number of staff had left. This was particularly in relation to night shifts. A person who lives at Southwell Court told us: 'The staff are always rushing, they don't seem as happy, they also seem to be short handed quite often.' A relative said: 'This is a large home, on three floors, and there never seems to be enough staff. Often you have to go looking for a staff member if you want one, and people who live here are often left on their own and have to wait.'