We carried out a review of the data available to us about St Joseph's - Newcastle 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 St Joseph's - Newcastle, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice.
The provider was facilitating visits for people who used the service safely. A visiting pod was available in the garden; people were supported to make video calls when relatives couldn’t visit. The service had purchased a microphone to help people and their visitors hear each other during window visits.
The service was clean. Enhanced cleaning was being carried out including frequent touch points such as handrails and door handles.
People were encouraged to be socially distant from each other when in communal areas. People said that staff always wore their masks and other PPE when helping them.
Risk assessments and policies were in place to help keep people safe.
St Joseph's - Newcastle is one of a number of homes run by the Little Sisters of the Poor congregation. Jeanne Jugan was the founder and first Little Sister of the Poor. The homes' vision is to continue the inspiration of Jeanne Jugan in today's world, to improve care for the elderly and to promote the elderly's role in society. The Little Sisters of the Poor congregation adhere at all times to the philosophy and ethics of
the Catholic Church.
St Joseph's - Newcastle is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
At our last inspection, we rated the service good. At this inspection, we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
At this inspection, we found the service remained good. Full detailed finding can be found in the last inspection report.
The home had a registered manager in place who was also the Mother Superior. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC 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. The registered manager and the staffing team were held in high regard by people and visitors to the service.
The registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding and staff had been trained in safeguarding procedures. People’s day to day risks had been assessed to support them as much as possible and help keep them from harm. Accidents and incidents were appropriately recorded and monitored.
People had access to healthcare services and received ongoing healthcare support. Appropriate arrangements were in place for the safe management and administration of medicines.
People’s care needs were assessed before they started using the service and care plans were written in a person-centred way and reviewed regularly. Being person-centred means the person’s individual wishes, needs and choices are taken into account.
Staff treated people with dignity and respect and helped to maintain people’s independence by encouraging them to care for themselves where possible. 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 support this practice.
Activities were plentiful and arranged around the likes and interests of people who used the service. The community was encouraged to be involved with the service, including attending luncheon clubs.
The home was clean, spacious and suitable for the people who used the service. The provider had effective procedures in place for managing the maintenance of the premises and appropriate health and safety checks were carried out.
The provider had a complaints procedure in place and people who used the service and their relatives were aware of how to make a complaint. The provider had a quality assurance process which they used to maintain good standards throughout the service. People who used the service, relatives and staff were regularly consulted about the quality of the service through meetings and surveys.
The provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure in place and sufficient staff were employed and on duty to meet people’s needs. Staff were supported through a range of mandatory training, supervision and yearly appraisal.
This was an unannounced inspection carried out on 20 and 25 November 2015.
We last inspected St Joseph’s Newcastle in January 2014. At that inspection we found the service was meeting the legal requirements in force at the time.
St Joseph’s Newcastle provides accommodation for people who require nursing or personal care and support for up to 58 people, some of whom may live with dementia or a dementia related condition.
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 were protected as staff had received training about safeguarding and knew how to respond to any allegation of abuse. Staff were aware of the whistle blowing procedure which was in place to report concerns and poor practice.
Staff had received training and had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Best Interest Decision Making, where decisions were made on behalf of people who were unable to make decisions themselves. Other appropriate training was provided and staff were supervised and supported.
People received their medicines in a safe and timely way. People had access to health care professionals to make sure they received appropriate care and treatment. Staff followed advice given by professionals to make sure people received the care they needed.
Staff knew the people they were supporting well. Care was provided with kindness and people’s privacy and dignity were respected.
Menus were varied and a choice was offered at each mealtime. Staff supported people who required help to eat and drink and special diets were catered for. There were a variety of activities and entertainment available for people.
A complaints procedure was available. People told us they would feel confident to speak to staff about any concerns if they needed to. People had the opportunity to give their views about the service. There was regular consultation with people and/ or family members and their views were used to improve the service. The provider undertook a range of audits to check on the quality of care provided.
Staff and people who used the service said the registered manager was supportive and approachable. Communication was effective, ensuring people, their relatives and other relevant agencies were kept up to date about any changes in people’s care and support needs and the running of the service. There were effective systems to assess and monitor the quality of the service, which included feedback from people receiving care.
We left comment cards following our visit to gain feedback on the service and received 10 responses which were all complimentary.
This inspection was completed as part of the national themed inspection programme looking at dementia care.
We found there was knowledge and awareness of dementia care in the service. The manager was aware of good practice guidelines relating to dementia and these were incorporated into the care provided at the home. We found staff were knowledgeable about how to care for people with dementia and they could support people to maintain their dignity when assisting with personal care.
People with dementia were encouraged to be involved for as long as possible in decision making in their day to day living.
We saw people with dementia had good access to health care professionals to help ensure their care and treatment needs could be met.
We saw there was a good standard of record keeping and people's care plans and care reviews were up to date. Staff we spoke with and observed knew the people they were caring for well. This meant individual care was given to people that met their needs.
Staff told us they had received up to date training about dementia. Several staff said they had worked over twenty years at the service and they felt they worked as a team.
We found there were effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care that people with dementia received. People who lived at the service and relatives said they were kept informed and asked their views about the quality care the service provided.
Comments from people using the service included:
"I'm very comfortable living here."
"The staff are very good."
"Staff are kindness itself."
"It's like a five star hotel."
"The food is excellent."