We carried out a review of the data available to us about Prior Bank House on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Prior Bank House, you can give feedback on this service.
Prior Bank House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for to 32 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The is home is a converted Victorian house with a purpose-built extension to the rear.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received person centred care and support based on their individual needs and preferences. Staff were aware of people's life histories and individual preferences. Staff knew how to minimise risks to people and followed good practice guidance as detailed within risk assessments. People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who had undergone a robust recruitment process.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff received an induction and on-going training to support them in their roles. People had access to services they required to maintain their health and staff supported them accordingly.
Medicines were managed safely, and people were protected from the risks associated with the spread of infection.
The service worked with a variety of health and social care professionals to help people achieve good outcomes and promote their wellbeing. There was a variety of activities on offer.
People were supported by a management team that looked to ensure people received person-centred care. The quality of care people received was audited and monitored by staff using effective quality assurance systems.
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 21 August 2015). There was also an inspection on 12 December 2017 however, the report following that inspection was withdrawn as there was an issue with some of the information that we gathered.
Why we inspected
This is a planned re-inspection because of the issue highlighted above.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Our inspection of Prior Bank House was unannounced and was undertaken on 23 and 24 April 2015.
Prior Bank House was last inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in September 2013 and was found to be meeting regulations relating to respecting and involving people who use services, care and welfare of people who use services, meeting people’s nutritional needs, assessing and monitoring the quality of the service and records.
Prior Bank House is a large converted Victorian house which provides accommodation for up to 31 older people who require nursing or personal care, some of whom are living with dementia. The home was fully occupied at the time of our inspection.
Each bedroom had an en-suite shower room. There were also shared bathrooms and toilets situated throughout the home. Accommodation was provided over two floors, accessed by stairs and a lift. There is a large lounge which has a smaller lounge attached to it. There was also another small lounge where people can spend time with those important to them. The dining room was situated at the back of the home and overlooks a pleasant garden area.
A registered manager was in place. 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 that they felt safe living at Prior Bank House. For example, one person told us, “I feel safe and very content here.” We found that there were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Conversations with staff and the registered manager demonstrated that they were aware of local safeguarding procedures and had the necessary knowledge to ensure that vulnerable adults were safeguarded from abuse.
Our conversations with the manager, staff and our review of records evidenced that the home had an effective process to ensure that employees were of good character and held the necessary checks and qualifications to work at the home. Staff were provided with a range of training to help them carry out their roles and received regular supervision and an annual appraisal.
People told us that they received their medicines on time. Our observation of the tea-time medication round, together with our review of records provided evidence that medicines were safely administered, recorded and stored.
Equipment within the home was clean, well maintained and was fit for purpose. Appropriate signs and adaptations were in place to promote people’s independence within the home and support and orientate people living with dementia. For example, there was a dementia friendly lift which played calming music and was spacious, brightly lit and contained items to orientate people such as a large clock.
People’s physical health needs were monitored and clearly documented. Referrals were made when needed to health professionals.
There were sufficient care staff to meet people’s nutritional needs. Staff were aware of people’s nutritional needs and food preferences. Our observation of a mealtime, conversation with the cook and our review of nutritional records evidenced that people received a choice of suitable, healthy, homemade food, snacks and drinks throughout the day.
Conversations with staff and observations throughout our visit showed us that staff offered and involved people in a range of day to day decisions. The registered manager and members of staff demonstrated a clear understanding of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act, 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The correct procedures were followed in order to meet the DoLS and ensure that people’s rights were protected.
Our observations together with conversations with people and those important to them provided evidence that the service was caring. We saw that staff across the home spent time sitting and talking with people. Members of staff spoken with on the day of our inspection had a good understanding of people’s individual needs and preferences and knew how to respect people’s privacy and dignity.
We found that Prior Bank House acknowledged and provided a broad range of meaningful activities to support people to maintain existing interests as well as access differing activities and community resources.
Staff were positive about the registered manager and the way in which she led the service. They told us that the registered manager was always around, was approachable and had made a number of improvements since being in post.
A range of regular scheduled and unscheduled checks were undertaken to monitor the quality of the service. People, their friends and family and staff were encouraged to provide feedback by attending meetings and completing surveys about the care and support provided at Prior Bank House.
Records checked showed that before people received any care or treatment they were asked for their consent and the staff acted in accordance with their wishes.
People that we could communicate with told us that they were happy living at the home and that they were very satisfied with the care they received. People said, "They [care workers] are very kind to me. They are all kind with a sense of humour. Some of them are friendly which makes life easier. We all have choice, we listen to music and watch TV and choose what time to get up."
The provider had a satisfactory recruitment and selection procedure in place to ensure that staff were appropriately employed.
The provider had an appropriate system in place for gathering, recording and evaluating information about the quality and safety of care the service provided.
Throughout our inspection we noted that staff spoke with people in a kind and respectful way and had a clear knowledge of people's individual likes and preferences. People told us, "the staff know what we like and it's all there when we need it" and "this is a small friendly home and the staff know us very well."
People told us that they felt safe living in the home and if they had concerns they would speak with a family member or a member of the staff team.
A number of staff we spoke with were positive about the fact that they were given opportunities for further training and personal development. A number of staff had undertaken, or were currently undertaking National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ's).
Sheffield Local Authority Contracting and Commissioning had recently carried out a full monitoring visit. They told us that upon confirmation of training delivered, the home was signed off as compliant and that they had no current concerns about the home.
During the above visit Sheffield Contracting and Commissioning Department spoke with a person who used the service and this identified they had no concerns about the care they received.
During three safeguarding investigations into the route cause of pressure areas at the service health professionals stated Prior Bank staff try very hard and they have no reservations about the home meeting nutritional needs.
A route cause analysis of three safeguarding incidents told us the people and their families were satisfied with the care they received.