We carried out a review of the data available to us about St Stephens Nursing Home 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 Stephens Nursing Home, you can give feedback on this service.
St Stephens Nursing Home is a nursing home providing personal care to 31 people with complex needs at the time of our inspection. The service can support up to 31 adults who live with dementia, enduring mental health conditions and/or a physical disability. Accommodation consists of single, spacious bedrooms and multiple communal areas for people’s comfort and relaxation. St Stephens Nursing Home will be referred to as St Stephens within this report.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The provider continued to deploy high staffing levels and excellent skill mixes to retain people’s welfare. They had good oversight of everyone’s safety and checked their processes reduced risks. A relative said, “I go home happy.” The registered manager had good systems to protect people from poor practice and to manage their medication safely.
The provider continued to heavily invest in staff to maintain their outstanding expertise. A relative told us, “The staff are well trained and know exactly how to get the best from my [relative].” The management team retained strong assessment procedures to minimise disruption from failed placements. A relative stated “It was a big step for us to move my [relative] into a home. The staff were superb.” The provider maintained an excellent nutritional care model. 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 supported this practice. Staff excelled in the application of the MCA and people stressed they felt at the heart of their decision-making.
The registered manager continued to maintain high standards of dignity and respect. A relative commented, “If I ever needed care such as this, I would come here myself.” Another relative added, “This home is fantastic.” They instilled a highly inclusive environment and genuine desire to celebrate difference and each person’s individuality. The registered manager continued to plan and agree care highly focused on involving people and their representatives.
The management team continued to build highly advanced care plans and assessments that fully involved people to help staff meet their needs. A relative said, “I can’t ask for more. My [relative] is content and much calmer since he came to the home.” The registered manager maintained an excellent programme of activities for people’s stimulation and wellbeing. They continued to provide exceptional care for people at the end of their lives.
Staff and people told us leadership was exceptional. A staff member stated, “Working at St Stephens is great. I feel really valued.” The management team continued to engage extremely well with other agencies to provide an outstanding service. They endeavoured to review lessons learned and involved everyone in service development. The provider continued to excel at acquiring people’s feedback about quality assurance.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was outstanding (published 20 July 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.
St Stephens provides nursing care and support for a maximum of 31 people, some of whom have dementia or physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection, the home was fully occupied. St Stephens Nursing Home is situated in a residential area of Blackpool close to the promenade. It offers 27 single room accommodation in addition to two double rooms with lift access to all floors.
There is a conservatory to the rear providing people with space for privacy and solitude.
At the last inspection on 14 October 2015, the service was rated as good in all five key areas and overall. The service met the requirements of the regulations.
During this inspection, a relative told us, “By a country mile this place is unbelievable.” Staff said they were exceptionally trained to undertake their duties. We found Investors in People (IIP) had recently awarded St Stephens with their Gold Standard for the provider’s excellent commitment to workforce development. This enabled staff to underpin their learning and practice to give people the best possible care. Another relative said, “The staff are very well trained.”
People and their relatives told us they found meals and their nutritional support were of a very high standard. The provider installed innovative systems to manage risks of malnutrition and swallowing difficulties to maintain their safety. For example, the management team recognised local issues meant people had to await access to specialist nutritional services. They overcame this with the latest information technology.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff assisted them in the least restrictive way possible. They demonstrated an excellent knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Care records detailed people’s consent to their care and each area of their support contained decision specific, individual DoLS care plans.
We found the registered manager was exceptionally kind and understood the importance of high standards of care to give people meaningful lives. They inspired their workface to ensure quality of service provision was provided as a team. One staff member said, “To help someone eat, to do activities, to have a wash, to go out shopping, I love that. I also love that the residents love that.” Staff and the management team were acutely aware of the need to gain as much information about the person to provide highly personalised support. One relative said, “They know [my relative] very well because they checked with me and I know him very well.”
The registered manager’s main aim of care planning and support provision centred upon maintaining the person’s independence, whilst respecting their culture, diversity and human rights. We observed staff assisted people to be in as much control of their lives as possible. We found care records flowed extremely well, gave an in-depth picture of the person and were meaningful and comprehensive. The registered manager introduced highly innovative approaches to improve people’s self-confidence and independence.
We observed the registered manager enabled staff to have time to sit and chat with each person and provide activities for long periods throughout the day. People and families we spoke with said this was an exceptional part of care provision at the home.
The excellent leadership approach assessed, implemented and evaluated service provision and whether this maintained high standards in people’s welfare. The management team completed multiple, proactive and very in-depth quality assurance systems and we found evidence they acted upon any concerns. Satisfaction surveys were provided for staff, visitors and people who lived at the home. We saw responses were highly complementary of St Stephens.
We saw the management team had systems to manage accidents and incidents to reduce the potential risk to people’s safety. Care and environmental risk assessments were available to guide staff to reduce the risks of harm or injury. Staff were knowledgeable about reporting procedures if they suspected people were at risk from harm or poor practice.
Systems to aid people’s safety were underpinned by exceptional staffing levels and skill mixes deployed at St Stephens. One person who lived at the home told us, “How can you not feel safe here with the amount of staff on.” We saw evidence to confirm the management team checked staff backgrounds prior to their recruitment to ensure their suitability.
The registered manager and nurses had clear processes to manage people’s medicines safely. They explained to each person what their medication was for and continually reassured them. Staff received appropriate training and competency testing to ensure their medicines knowledge was up-to-date.
We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of St Stephens Nursing Home on 14 October 2014. After that inspection, we received information of concern about an individual’s safety. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to assess if people who lived at the home were safe. This report only covers our findings in relation to the safety of people who lived at the home. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for St Stephens Nursing Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk
The inspection visit at St Stephens Nursing Home was undertaken on 08 and 09 September 2015 and was unannounced.
St Stephens provides care and support for a maximum of 31 people who live with dementia or physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were 30 people living at the home. St Stephens is situated in a residential area of Blackpool close to the promenade. It offers 27 single room accommodation in addition to two double rooms with lift access to all floors. There is a conservatory to the rear providing people with space for privacy and solitude.
A registered manager was in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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.
At the comprehensive inspection on 14 October 2014, we found the provider was meeting all the requirements of the regulations and we rated the service as Good overall and in all five key areas.
During this focused inspection, people who lived at the home and their representatives told us they felt safe. One relative said, “I lived here for a while with [my relative], so I know it’s a good place.” We observed staff were extremely caring and patient. They sat for long periods chatting and reassuring people in a respectful and compassionate way. Staff responded appropriately, where individuals demonstrated behaviours that challenged the service. For example, staff were reassuring and used soft, calming tones to help settle individuals. A relative told us, “I’m very happy about [my relative’s] care.”
Accidents and incidents were managed appropriately and the service offered a dementia-friendly environment to protect people from harm or injury. Incidents were analysed and acted upon to minimise the reoccurrence of potential risks.
The registered manager had systems in place to ensure careful assessment of individuals before admission. Additionally, the assessment of people’s needs had been completed on an ongoing basis. The care records we looked at were in-depth and regularly reviewed. Staff demonstrated they had a thorough understanding of each person who lived at the home. They were required to sign documents to indicate they understood people’s support requirements. Files we checked were updated to the outcomes of professional visits and appointments to reflect the ongoing provision of support. The registered manager had provided detailed documentation to guide staff in protecting individuals from unsafe and inappropriate care.
Staff had been provided with a range of training and guidance to support them in their roles. During our discussions with them, staff demonstrated they had an in-depth understanding of protecting people from potential abuse and harm. During our inspection, we observed people were not deprived of their liberty and were supported to make day-to-day decisions. There was a high level of staffing and skill mixes to ensure individuals were effectively supported by sufficient employees. People, staff and visitors told us there were enough staff to keep people safe and fully occupied.
People’s medicines were managed, administered and stored securely to protect people against unsafe processes. Staff had followed national guidelines on effective record keeping in relation to medication. For example, hand-written records were checked and signed for correctly.
People and their relatives said the home was well managed and organised to protect people from inappropriate care. Staff told us they felt well supported by the management team and enjoyed working at the home. One staff member told us, “I love working here, there’s something about this home and the residents. I go home happy and sleep well knowing I’ve done a good job.” People and their representatives explained they were assisted to comment upon their care and the management team responded effectively. This showed people were supported to feedback about the quality and safety of their care.
The inspection at St Stephens Nursing Home was undertaken on 14 October 2014 and was unannounced.
St Stephens Nursing Home provides care and support for a maximum of 31 people, some of whom have dementia or physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection the home was fully occupied. St Stephens Nursing Home is situated in a residential area of Blackpool close to the promenade. It offers 27 single room accommodation in addition to two double rooms with lift access to all floors. There is a conservatory to the rear providing people with space for privacy and solitude.
There was no registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider. However, the provider told us they were recruiting for the post of registered manager and a senior nurse who was already in post had been appointed. We saw evidence that an application to register had been sent and was being processed by CQC. The provider was overseeing the day-to-day management of the home and people and staff told us she was accessible, supportive and visible within the service.
People told us they felt safe and comfortable. Systems were in place to safeguard individuals from the risk of abuse. People were supported to be involved in, and make decisions about, their care. Protocols were in place to protect the human rights of those individuals who may have been unable to make decisions about their support.
Staff provided care in an unhurried and respectful manner. We observed their interactions with individuals to be of a very caring and courteous nature. People’s dignity and privacy were maintained throughout our inspection. We observed people to be relaxed and fully occupied. It was clear from our observations that staff knew the people in their care, how to engage with them appropriately and how best to support them.
Care records we reviewed were detailed and personalised. These were built around people’s preferences and diverse needs. People and their representatives told us they had been involved in their care planning.
Staffing levels had been properly assessed and monitored. For example, the provider used a system of floating staff to provide additional staffing support in busy parts of the home. This ensured sufficient numbers of skilled staff were able to meet the needs of people who lived at St Stephens. We noted staff were adequately trained and received formal and informal supervision and support from the designated training lead.
People’s health needs were monitored and any changes were acted upon. The home worked with other providers to ensure continuity of care. Medication was administered safely by appropriately trained staff.
Staff talked about an open, supportive culture within the home. The service actively sought the views of staff, people who lived there and visitors. Staff monitored the health, safety and well-being of people they supported and regularly checked the quality of the service they provided. We were told the management team acted upon feedback they received and had recently introduced changes to improve the care they provided.
Care plan records contained information that enabled staff to meet the needs of the people living in the home. A range of risk assessments were undertaken and these were reviewed along with care plans. We looked at the suitability of the environment to ensure it was being maintained and was safe for the people living in the home. We saw people`s homes were pleasantly decorated and furnished to a high standard.
Staff we spoke with told us they felt very well supported in their roles. They told us they received supervision, training and development opportunities. The staff training matrix indicated mandatory training courses staff had undertaken. There were a range of audits and systems in place to monitor the quality of the service being provided. At the time of our inspection the provider did not have a Registered Manager in post.
Although many people were unable to talk with us because of the effects of their dementia and mental health, we observed how people got on with each other, and how the staff supported them. We saw there was a calm and responsive staff team on duty. We noted that people had been supported with their personal care and were well dressed and groomed. The home was welcoming and maintained to a high standard. There was building works underway for the installation of a new lift. A conservatory had recently been installed to the rear of the home which was available for people to spend some quiet time or meet with friends and relatives in private.
People we spoke with identified that they could have their own routines and sit in the lounge during the day and go to their bedroom when they wanted.
People who use this service told us there is always plenty of staff on duty and they are available when they need them.
'All the staff are nice and friendly'.
By looking at the systems in place we saw the home provides care in a flexible way so that people have choice in their day to day lives. Comments included, " I get more or less do what I want to", " The staff are always around when you want them, they are very good", " There is always something going on its a busy place".