Barton Place Nursing Home

Updated 18 November 2022

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 two inspectors and an 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

Barton Place Nursing Home is a ‘care home’ with nursing care. 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. 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.

What we did before 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, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people using the service and eight relatives and asked them about their experiences of care and support provided. Some people using the service were unable to use words to communicate, so we observed interactions between people and staff to understand their experiences. We also 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.

We spoke with ten members of staff including the provider; registered manager; nursing staff; team leaders, care staff; cook and domestic. We received feedback from two health and social care professionals who work with the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five peoples care records, medicines administration records (MAR), four staff recruitment files, staff training records and other records related to the management of the service.

Updated 18 November 2022

Barton Place Nursing Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 42 people. The service provides support to people living with dementia and mental illness. At the time of our inspection there were 37 people using the service, accommodated in one adapted building over three floors.

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

Barton Place had been through a challenging period related to the recruitment and retention of staff and the Covid 19 pandemic. During this period, they had been proactive in adopting measures to ensure people continued to be supported safely. The recruitment and staffing difficulties were now resolving, and the service was opening up again to visitors after the lockdowns. Relatives’ meetings were being reinstated and action being taken to increase their involvement and engagement with the service.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service, but it had been challenging to complete the full range of audits given the operational difficulties facing the service. Despite this, key audits had been completed and the registered manager had a detailed knowledge of where improvements were needed. The provider and registered manager were now in the process of improving and streamlining governance processes to make them more effective.

People felt safe living at Barton Place, and we observed the interaction with staff supporting them was relaxed. Staff were recruited safely, and safeguarding processes were in place to help protect people from abuse. Risks associated with people's care had been assessed and guidance was in place for staff to follow. Care plans were detailed, and person centred, with needs and risks reviewed with staff on a daily basis. This meant staff were kept informed about the support people needed.

Staff received the training they needed to keep themselves and people safe and meet their needs. This included supporting people who were expressing distress and/or agitation. This meant their healthcare and nutritional needs were met. External professionals were complimentary about how the service worked in partnership with them.

People received their medicines safely, and in the way prescribed for them. The provider had good systems to manage safeguarding concerns, accidents and environmental safety.

Barton Place provided a person-centred service. The care provided was sensitive to people's diverse needs. Staff effectively supported people’s communication which meant they could express their views and make choices about how they wished to be supported.

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.

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 08 May 2019)

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to staffing; the management of risks; poor moving and handling; abuse; infection prevention and the management of the service. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of Safe and Well-Led only. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns.

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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.