Amberwood Nursing Home

Updated 24 March 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 5 March 2021 and was announced.

Updated 24 March 2021

This comprehensive inspection took place on 17 and 20 April 2018. The first day of the inspection was unannounced. This meant that the provider and staff did not know we were coming.

Amberwood Nursing Home is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Amberwood Nursing Home is located in the seaside town of Exmouth. It is a two storey detached building with a passenger lift enabling people to access all areas. There is a main communal lounge and small dining area where people could spend their time as they chose. To the rear of the house is a well maintained secure garden with patio doors leading out and parking to the front. The service is registered to provide personal and nursing care for up to 24 older people. There were 17 people using the service on the first day of our inspection.

We last inspected the service in January 2016, at that inspection the service was rated as 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.

Why the service is rated good

There was an experienced registered manager who managed Amberwood and the provider’s other service, which is also in Exmouth, Linksways. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC to manage the service. Like registered persons, 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 time of the inspection, the acting manager was running the service as the registered manager was on leave.

Safe recruitment procedures were in place and appropriate pre-employment checks were undertaken. There were sufficient number of staff on duty to care for people safely. Where there were any shortfalls the provider used the services of a local care agency to provide care at the home. Staff were up to date with training; Staff had completed additional training courses linked to the needs of the people using the service. Equality and Diversity was part of the provider's mandatory training requirements and people were cared for without discrimination and in a way that respected their differences.

Care records contained detailed risk assessments. People had individual personal emergency evacuation plans in place. The management team recorded and monitored accidents and incidents. Regular maintenance checks and repairs were carried out; all areas of the service were clean and tidy.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. The management team had made submitted appropriate Deprivation of Liberties Safeguards DoLS applications. At the time of our inspection there were four applications submitted. Mental capacity assessments were undertaken and best interest decisions were recorded.

Staff felt well supported and participated in regular supervision and appraisals. Staff said regular staff meetings meant they felt involved with the development of the service.

People were supported to maintain their health and wellbeing and had access to health professionals when needed. An external company provided meals at the service with a rolling four week menu which took into account people’s likes and dislikes. People were on the whole happy with the food they received. Snacks and drinks were available when people required them. People's weights were monitored regularly and advice sought from GPs if there was any cause for concern.

People and their relatives were happy with the way care was delivered and happy with the staff approach. Staff interacted positively with people who used the service and had a good knowledge of the people they cared for. Staff provided care in a way that protected people's privacy and dignity and promoted independence.

People were receiving care that was tailored to their individual needs. Care plans contained detailed information, including life history, to help staff support people in a personalised way.

The management team were committed to ensuring people experienced end of life care in an individualised and dignified way. They worked closely with the local hospice team and provided a service for people requiring end of life care. There were numerous thank you messages from relatives regarding the good quality care people had received at the end of their lives at the service.

A staff member was responsible for co-ordinating activities; there was a varied timetable of events. They were new to their role and with the management team’s support, they were putting in place plans to develop activities further at the service.

There was a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to make a complaint if necessary. The provider had a quality monitoring system at the service. The premises and equipment were well managed to keep people safe. Records contained accurate and up to date information relating to people's care needs.

Staff meetings took place regularly and staff felt able to discuss any issues with the management team. Feedback was also sought in a variety of ways from people using the service and relatives. Staff spoke highly about the registered manager and management team.

The service had close links with healthcare professionals who gave positive feedback regarding the knowledge and cooperation of management and staff.