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  • Care home

Archived: Thornfield Care Home - Lymington

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

8 Milford Road, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 8DJ (01590) 676191

Provided and run by:
Mrs S Poordil and Mr M Poordil

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

All Inspections

17 November 2021

During a routine inspection

About the service

Thornfield Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to people aged 65 and over, some of whom are living with dementia and mental health needs. The service can support up to 17 people. 17 people were living at the home at the time of the inspection. The home is owned by Mr M and Mrs S Poordil who are referred to throughout as the provider. Mrs S Poordil is also the registered manager for the service.

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

People and their relatives told us they felt safe living at Thornfield Care Home. There were always plenty of staff around who responded quickly to requests for help. Staff had received training in safeguarding people from harm and knew how to identify, prevent and report abuse. Relevant recruitment checks were conducted before staff started working at the service to make sure only suitable staff were employed. Environmental risks were assessed, and measures were in place to reduce and manage these risks. Staff knew people well and how to identify, assess and mitigate any risks to their safety. Medicines were managed safely and effectively by staff who were trained and competent to do so.

Staff received frequent training, support and supervision and felt supported by the management team. People were supported to maintain a balanced diet. Staff were aware of people's likes and dislikes and any allergies and special diets. People were supported to maintain their independence and have choice and control in their lives. Where people lacked mental capacity to make decisions, these were made in line with the Mental Capacity Act and staff supported people in the least restrictive way.

People were treated with respect, dignity, kindness and compassion. We observed, and people and relatives told us, that the staff were kind, helpful and friendly. People and their relatives felt involved in reviews and decisions about their care.

There was an open and positive culture within the home and people and their relatives told us the management team was approachable and helpful. There were robust management arrangements in place and systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service provided.

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 in March 2020.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated Good and Outstanding to test the reliability of our new monitoring approach.

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.

29 January 2020

During a routine inspection

About the service

Thornfield Care Home is a care home, providing personal care to older people 65 and over, some of whom are living with dementia and mental health needs. The service can support up to 17 people. The home is owned by Mr M and Mrs S Poordil who are referred to throughout as the provider. Mrs S Poordil is also the registered manager for the service.

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

People and relatives told us they were very happy with the care and support they received. Staff were caring, thoughtful and respected their privacy and dignity. We observed this was the case during the inspection. People said their wishes were respected and they felt involved in decisions about their care. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible. The home was friendly and welcoming. Family and friends felt welcomed by staff who knew them well and involved them in daily life at the home.

People and relatives told us they felt safe at Thornfield Care Home and were very happy with the care people received. Staff understood their responsibilities in safeguarding people and the provider shared any concerns appropriately with the local authority and CQC. The provider carried out recruitment checks which ensured only suitable staff were employed, although most staff had been in post for many years. There were enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing had been identified and measures were in place to reduce any risks. Accidents and incidents were investigated by the registered manager and learning shared to reduce risks of reoccurrence. Staff received training in administering medicines which were safely managed.

Staff obtained consent from people for day to day decisions about their care. People without capacity to make decisions were supported in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to ensure their rights were protected. People were supported to maintain optimum health and wellbeing and had access to routine and preventative healthcare services when needed. People had a choice of nutritious, homecooked foods and were offered assistance to eat their meals if required.

Staff knew people very well including their likes, dislikes, preferences and wishes and were responsive to their care and support needs. People enjoyed a variety of activities which helped them maintain their health and interests. People and relatives knew who to speak to if they needed to raise a complaint and felt confident they would be listened to.

The management team had implemented an electronic system for care planning and monitoring the delivery of the service. They had developed a range of quality monitoring systems, such as surveys and audits, and feedback was used to help drive improvement. Where we identified issues during the inspection, these were raised with the registered manager and provider and action taken to address these. People, relatives and staff spoke very highly of the registered manager and provider and the positive impact they had. Staff told us the registered manager and provider were approachable and always available for support and guidance.

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 1 August 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

29 June 2017

During a routine inspection

Thornfield Care Home is owned by Mr and Mrs Poordil who are throughout this report referred to as the provider. The home is located in a residential area, approximately one mile from the centre of Lymington. It can accommodate up to 17 people. The accommodation is arranged over two floors with a stair lift available to access the upper floor. On the ground floor there is an open plan living/ dining area from which there is access to the kitchen, laundry and the office. Four of the rooms were shared rooms. There is a large, mature garden with seating areas. The home does not provide nursing care. There were 16 people living in the home when we inspected, some of whom were living with dementia.

At the last inspection in April 2015, the service was rated good. At this inspection we found that the service remained good.

The service had a registered manager who was also the registered provider. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Staff had received training in safeguarding adults, and had a good understanding of the signs of abuse and neglect.

Safe recruitment practices were followed and there were sufficient numbers of experienced staff to meet people’s needs.

People were supported by a staff team that received the training, supervision and support that they needed to provide people with care and support that met people's needs.

People were supported to have 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 in practice.

Improvements were planned to update aspects of the premises and make the design and layout of the home more suitable for people living with dementia.

People told us the food was tasty and that they were supported to have enough to eat and drink.

People told us they were supported by staff that were kind and caring and that they were treated with dignity and respect.

Care plans contained the information needed to support staff to provide people’s care in a manner that was responsive to their individual needs.

People were supported to take part in activities which they told us they enjoyed.

People spoke positively about how well organised and managed the service was.

There were systems in place to assess and monitor the quality and safety of the service and to ensure people were receiving appropriate support.

13 April 2015

During a routine inspection

Thornfield Care Home is registered to provide accommodation and support for up to 17 older people who may also be living with dementia. This home is not registered to provide nursing care.

On the day of our visit 17 people were living at the home. The home has nine single and four double occupancy rooms. The home is situated within walking distance of local facilities in the town centre and surrounding area. The home has one large living room / dining area and kitchen. There is a stair lift to the first floor. The home has a well maintained garden and a patio area that people are actively encouraged to use.

The inspection on 13 April 2015 was unannounced.

There was a registered manager at the home. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Staff understood the needs of the people and care was provided with kindness and compassion. People, relatives and health care professionals told us they were very happy with the care and described the service as excellent. A visiting GP told us, “I have the utmost confidence that staff provide excellent care. I have no concerns at all regarding anyone living there. The home always contact us if they are unsure or need advice”.

People were supported to take part in activities they had chosen. One person said, “I love living here. The staff are very kind and look after all of us very well”.

Staff were appropriately trained and skilled to ensure the care delivered to people was safe and effective. They all received a thorough induction when they started work at the home and fully understood their roles and responsibilities.

The registered manager assessed and monitored the quality of care consistently involving people, relatives and professionals. Care plans were reviewed regularly and people’s support was personalised and tailored to their individual needs. Each person and every relative told us they were asked for feedback and encouraged to voice their opinions about the quality of care provided.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. Three people living at the home were currently subject to a DoLS. The manager understood when an application should be made and how to submit one. They were aware of a recent Supreme Court Judgement which widened and clarified the definition of a deprivation of liberty.

Where people lacked the mental capacity to make decisions the home was guided by the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to ensure any decisions were made in the person’s best interests.

Staff talked to people in a friendly and respectful manner. People told us staff had developed good relationships with them and were attentive to their individual needs.

Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity at all times and interacted with people in a caring and professional manner.

People told us they felt staff were always kind and respectful to them. Staff told us they were encouraged to raise any concerns about possible abuse. One member of staff said, “We talk about abuse all the time. How to recognise it and what to do if we thought someone was being abused. I know if we have concerns we can speak to the manager and she would report it”.

People and relatives knew how to make a complaint if they needed to. The complaints procedure was displayed in the home. It included information about how to contact the ombudsman, if they were not satisfied with how the service responded to any complaint. There was also information about how to contact the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The home routinely listened and learned from people and visitor experiences through annual resident/ relatives’ survey. The surveys gained the views of people living at the home, their relatives and visiting health and social care professionals and were used to monitor and where necessary improve the service.

29 August 2013

During a routine inspection

We found that care plans contained details of the aims and objectives to maintain levels of independence and instructions for staff to continue to give time to people so that they felt comfortable at the home. Daily care notes were updated with the care given and details of the moods and feelings of the people living at the home. One relative we spoke with said: 'I visit most days and I know that my relative is well cared for. I am relaxed and very confident that the care I see when I am here continues when I am not here'.

People were provided with a choice of suitable and nutritious food and drink. We saw a copy of the menu which was nutritionally balanced and varied with two choices of meal each day. The registered manager told us that some people had asked for different meals to be added to the menu. One person who used the service told us: 'We are always given two choices of food at lunch time. There is other food available if I changed my mind'.

Appropriate checks were undertaken before care workers began work. We looked at the personnel records for four care workers. These confirmed that they had been interviewed, that references had been requested and that the provider had completed appropriate background checks before they started work at the home.

The registered manager told us how she ensured people were kept safe from harm or risk by undertaking regular audits. We saw that these audits included, for example medication, the environment and food hygiene. The registered manager said that any areas identified as needing improvement would be discussed at the staff team meetings and plans put in place to improve the service.

28 June 2012

During a routine inspection

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We used SOFI in this inspection because Thornfield Care Home provides a service for people with dementia and many of the people using the service were not able to provide direct feedback to us about their experiences.

During the observations we saw staff interacting with people in a friendly and respectful manner. Staff took the time to respond to questions and to ask people their preferences. Staff helped people to make decisions about activities that were taking place, for example, asking people whether they wanted to go out to the garden for a walk, taking time to discuss a magazine article with one person, responding to questions and supporting people to make choices about drinks and snacks. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of people's needs and communicated with people in different ways. Staff responded to requests for support, for example, to go to the toilet and to fix a hearing aid.

During the visit we spoke directly with two people who used the service. Both said they were well treated by the staff and that they were happy at the home. One person said they received 'excellent care'. Another person told us 'staff know what they're doing and have the right skills'. Both people we spoke with said they were aware of the home's complaints procedures and confident that any concerns they had would be resolved by the provider.

6 March 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

During this visit we spoke with three people who live at the home, the service providers and two members of staff. Many of the people using the service were not able to verbally communicate with us. We therefore spent time during our visit observing the care and support being given and how staff interacted with people.

Two people we spoke with told us that they did feel that they were involved in their care. They said that their families were also involved and that they were confident that the provider was aware of their wishes. They said that they felt safe and secure in the home and gave positive feedback about the staff. We observed staff talking to people and asking them about their needs. Staff spoke to people in a respectful manner and listened and responded to what they said.

21 October 2011

During a routine inspection

People we spoke with said that staff were respectful and polite. We were told how the service encouraged and supported people's autonomy and independence as much as possible. During our visit people were observed being spoken with and supported in a friendly and respectful manner. They told us they were getting the care and support they needed and that staff treated them well. Staff were 'always ready to help' and responded quickly if they asked for assistance.

People said that the food provided was good and there was always plenty to eat and drink. They said that they could have an alternative meal to the main menu if they wished. Visitors were always made to feel welcome.

People told us that they felt safe and were well cared for in the home. They felt that the staff were caring and had the qualities and skills to perform their work well. They told us that the service providers were 'approachable and kind'. They said that they could raise any concerns and were confident they would be responded to appropriately.