Clarkson House Residential Care Home

Updated 8 June 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and 1 Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Clarkson House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Clarkson House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post. The registered manager was also the provider. This means they are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 8 people that use the service and 3 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 8 staff including the registered manager, owner, deputy manager, the cook and care workers. We also spent time in communal areas observing how staff supported people.

We reviewed a range of records. These included care records, records relating to medicines, staff recruitment, training, and supervision, building maintenance, cleaning and equipment checks, accidents and incidents and safeguarding logs. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits and policies and procedures.

Updated 8 June 2023

About the service

Clarkson House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 28 people in one adapted building with bedrooms over 2 floors. At the time of our inspection there were 17 people using the service.

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

Risks to people’s health and safety were not always identified and medicines were not always managed safely. Systems and processes were in place to protect people from the risk of abuse. The service had safe staffing levels and there were robust recruitment measures in place. Infection control processes were followed. However, some parts of the décor required upgrading.

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.

People’s care plans did not always contain accurate up to date information and were found to be conflicting, although some care records were evidenced to be person centred. Staff had completed the relevant training courses to carry out their role and people felt cared for with compassion. People were treated with dignity and respect.

People enjoyed a range of activities and felt included. There was a complaints procedure in place which was being followed. The provider was meeting the Accessible Information Standard.

Governance systems were in place but not always effective. There was limited evidence of mitigation of risk when concerns had been found. The service had policies and procedures in place to guide staff. People and their families provided positive feedback about staff and the management team. Staff described the registered manager as approachable and we saw evidence of regular team meetings.

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 14 August 2019)

Why we inspected

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

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to risk management, health and safety, medicines management and good governance.

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.