St Anne's Community Services - Benedicts

About the service

St Anne’s Community Services-Benedicts is a nursing home providing personal care to 15 people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 16 people.

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

Right Support: Care plans did not contain sufficient detail for staff to support people to lead the lives they wanted. Which meant there was a risk of support not being provided to meet people’s needs or in a person-centred way. Medicine administration and records were not always accurately completed. Staff knew people well and we observed positive interactions. People were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did not always support them in the least restrictive way and in their best interests.

Right Care: Staff supported people in a caring and positive manner. Improvements were planned in care planning to promote independence and set longer term goals.

Right Culture: There were some instances where care planning did not always support people to lead inclusive and empowered lives. This was raised throughout the inspection process and the provider was responsive to improve the service. Relatives were positive about the care provided in 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 rated good (published 5 December 2017).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the relevant key question sections of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for St Anne’s Community Services-Benedicts on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement and Recommendations We have identified breaches in relation to medicine management, governance and auditing systems at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.

The home was clean and tidy however cleaning records had not always been completed. Following the inspection, the registered manager confirmed daily cleaning schedules had been amended to allow for care staff to document when they had wiped down areas throughout the day.

We found the following examples of good practice.

Risks in relation to visitors had been assessed and action taken to ensure the service followed national guidance. Regular Infection prevention control (IPC) audits were undertaken. The home's IPC policy was up to date and in line with current guidance.

Staff had access to supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and had received training to ensure they used this correctly. All staff had regular testing for COVID-19, and all had received their vaccinations.

Staff were trained on how to keep people safe from the risk of infection.

We found the following examples of good practice.

Risks of visiting professionals spreading infection were reduced. Visitors had their temperature taken and were asked about their health before entering the service. This was observed during the inspection.

Staff supported people to keep in touch with family and friends through video and phone calls to prevent isolation and promote people's mental wellbeing.

There was signage around the home encouraging the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) Hand sanitiser was available near the entrance and throughout the service.

The provider had appropriate arrangements to test people and staff for COVID- 19 and was following government guidance on testing.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

Benedict's provides 24 hour nursing care and support for up to 16 people with complex learning disability needs. The service provides long term care in addition to respite care. It is situated in a quiet residential area close to the centre of Wetherby.

At the last inspection, in September 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.There was 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 continued to receive care which protected them from avoidable harm and abuse. Staff met people's needs in a safe way and were available when people needed and wanted support. Systems for managing medicines safely were not always fully effective. However, the registered manager responded swiftly and took action to make sure appropriate arrangements were put in place to ensure safe medicines management.

People received care and support that was effective in meeting their needs. Staff had received training and support which gave them the skills and knowledge to meet people's individual needs. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff respected people's right to consent to and make their own decisions about their care and treatment.

People were treated with kindness and compassion by staff that knew them very well. Staff respected people's privacy, treated them with dignity and encouraged them to be as independent as they could be.

Staff responded to changes in people's needs which helped to ensure they got the care they needed. People were supported to spend their time how they wanted to and were encouraged to maintain their social interests within the local community. People and their relatives felt they could raise a concern and the provider had systems to manage any complaints that they may receive.

The provider had systems in place that continued to be effective in assessing and monitoring the quality of the service provided. The registered manager showed a commitment to running a well led service for the benefit of the people who used the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

During our visit, we saw staff interacting with people in a positive, respectful and caring manner. People experienced care, treatment and support that met their needs and protected their rights.

People appeared relaxed and comfortable in the presence of staff. We observed staff treating people kindly with regard to their dignity and privacy.

One person who used the service told us, 'Everything's fine, I Iike it here.' Another person who was staying for respite care said, 'Can I stay here? I want to live here, don't want to go home'

We spoke with two relatives during our visit and both told us they were happy with the care their relative received. One relative told us, "I do feel the care is very good here. I turn up whenever I like and all the residents are always nicely dressed and looked after well.'

There were effective systems in place to manage and reduce the risk of infection.

The service had effective recruitment and selection processes in place. Appropriate checks were made before people were employed by the service.

There were appropriate policies in place to effectively manage and respond to complaints or suggestions people made.