Crossley House

Updated 9 April 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 included checking the provider was meeting COVID-19 vaccination requirements. 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 one inspector 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

Crossley 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. Crossley 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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider 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

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included the statutory notifications the provider had sent to CQC. A notification includes information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

Some people living at the service were unable to communicate verbally. We spent time observing people in the communal areas of the home to help us understand their experiences.

We spoke with nine members of staff, as well as the registered manager, deputy manager, quality manager, relationships manager and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records and documents. This included three people’s care records and medicine records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We checked a variety of records relating to the management of the service. This included policies and procedures, quality assurance and health and safety documents.

We considered this information to help us to make a judgement about the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. The provider sent us information relating to staff training and supervision. Before and after we had visited the service, we spoke with eight professionals. Their comments have been incorporated into this report.

Updated 9 April 2022

About the service

Crossley House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 17 people. The service provides support to older people and those who are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 15 people using the service.

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

People were kept safe from avoidable harm because staff knew them and understood what actions they should take to protect people from abuse. The service worked with other agencies to do this.

People's medicines were administered as prescribed and generally managed safely by competent staff. We have made a recommendation about the management of creams and ointments.

Staff assessed, monitored and managed safety. Care records contained individual risk assessments which reflected people’s needs and supported staff to provide safe care for people. We were assured that people were protected by the prevention and control of infection.

New staff had recently been recruited and most shifts were now covered by permanent staff. The provider recruited staff safely, although paper records could be streamlined. We highlighted this to the management team.

Staff completed an induction programme and were supervised when they started in post. The provider was committed to providing staff with training, but this was not always up to date or in line with best practice. We have made a recommendation about staff training.

People’s needs and choices were assessed, and care and support delivered in line with current standards to achieve effective outcomes. Care plans reflected a good understanding of people’s needs, were up to date and regularly reviewed.

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.

A wider range of activities and events were restarting as the restrictions of the pandemic eased.

Staff provided respectful support with personal care and daily routines. People were supported to maintain their health and wellbeing, and to eat and drink enough to have a balanced diet. Referrals were made to specialist services as required.

The management team had a clear vision about the quality of care and service they aimed to provide. They worked in partnership with other organisations to develop the service.

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 requires improvement (published 09 July 2019). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service in June 2019. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment, notifications of other incidents, need for consent and good governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions safe, effective, responsive and well led which contain those requirements.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Crossley House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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