This inspection took place 15 January 2019 and was unannounced. Bradeney House Nursing and Care 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.
Bradeney House Nursing and Care Home is registered to provide accommodation with nursing and personal care to a maximum of 101 people, most of whom are living with dementia. There were 93 people living at the home on the day of our inspection. The home consists of units, which are all connected to each other. People's rooms are situated over three floors with stairs and passenger lift access to each floor. People have access to communal areas inside and outside the home.
Bradeney House Nursing and Care Home is also a domiciliary care service. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses. This service provides care and support to people living in purpose-built bungalows within the home’s grounds and is the occupant’s own home. The accommodation is bought. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care service.
Not everyone using Bradeney House domiciliary care service receives a regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided. No one was receiving a personal care service at the time of our inspection.
No registered manager was in post. The previous registered manager had left in November 2018. We are aware the provider and home manager have applied to become registered managers and will be registered shortly. 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.
During our previous inspection on 12 and 14 July 2017, we found areas where the provider needed to make improvements, but had not breached any regulations. At this inspection, we found the provider had made all the required improvements.
The provider had made improvements in all areas of the service, since our previous inspection and continued to build on these. Quality systems were effective and were used to ensure the improvements were sustained.
Staff practice helped to keep people safe and systems and protocols helped to protect people from danger, harm and abuse. The provider and staff assessed and managed any potential risks to people from their medical conditions, equipment and the environment to help ensure they remained safe.
People received their prescribed medicines when they needed them and were supported safely by sufficient and experienced staff.
The provider followed safe recruitment practices and appropriate checks had been undertaken, which made sure only suitable staff were employed to care for people in the home.
Staff were aware of the need to gain people's consent to their care and support. 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. The arrangements included processes and procedures to protect people from the risk of abuse.
People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain their health and welfare. They made choices about their food and drink, and meals were prepared appropriately where people had dietary needs or associated risks.
People were supported by staff who knew them well and had good relationships with them. Staff made sure people were involved in their own care and encouraged to take part in decisions about their care and support. Staff respected people's individuality, privacy, dignity and independence.
People’s equality, diversity and human rights (EDHR) were promoted by staff. Where people had individual preferences, these were respected and supported.
Staff were responsive to people’s individual needs and care given was personal to each person. People could choose to take part in leisure activities which reflected their interests and provided mental and physical stimulation. Group and individual activities were available if people wished to take part.
People were encouraged to give their feedback and make complaints as necessary. The provider took complaints seriously and used them to learn from and improve the service.
People were happy with the care and support they received and gave positive comments about the staff, management and provider. There was a welcoming and friendly atmosphere at the home, where staff were confident in their roles and worked for the benefit of the people who lived there.