Ardtully Retirement Residence

Updated 26 August 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

Service and service type

Ardtully Retirement Residence 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. Ardtully Retirement Residence 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 20 July 2022 and ended on 4 August. We visited the location’s service on 20 July 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 four people about their experience of the service and three relatives. We spoke with seven members of staff which included the registered manager, care, activities, domestic and maintenance staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people's care plans and electronic medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision records relating to the management of the service. We spent time observing people and staff together to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

Updated 26 August 2022

About the service

Ardtully Retirement Residence is a residential care home providing personal care for to up to 26 people. The service provides support to older people some of whom may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 21 people using the service.

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

The service was not always well led. The registered manager did not have full oversight of the service.

Risks to people had not all been identified and assessed accurately.

People were supported to have choice and control of their lives. However, whilst mental capacity assessments had been completed and best interests decisions made, applications were not always made for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) as required. This meant we were not assured people were supported in the least restrictive way possible.

People were supported to maintain relationships with their family and friends and take part in activities.

Families were very positive about the care received; one said, “Staff do as much and more than I could possibly do [for relative] at home.”

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 the service under the previous provider was good, published on 21 March 2017.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified breaches in relation to the oversight of the service, consent, and assessment of risk. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.