Updated 15 March 2024
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.
Inspection team
Inspection team consisted of 2 inspectors and 2 Experts by Experiences. One Expert by Experience completed an onsite visit and 1 Expert by Experience completed relative calls remotely. 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
Castlewellan house is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under 1 contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Castlewellan 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.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
Inspection activity started on 4 January 2024 and ended on 11 January 2024. We visited the service on 4 January 2024.
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 and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service.
During the inspection
We looked at the information we had gathered. We met and spoke with 13 people living in the home and 12 relatives. We spent time observing staff working with and supporting people in communal areas. We also spoke with 4 staff members. The registered manager and the operations manager worked closely together and engaged fully with the inspection visit. The nominated individual also attended the inspection and engaged fully with us. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed a range of records. This included 9 people's care records and medication records. We also looked at the training records of staff and staff rotas. We reviewed records relating to the management of the home and looked at a small selection of policies and procedures.
We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.