• Care Home
  • Care home

Sandwood Care Home

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

700 Mansfield Road, Sherwood, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG5 3FS (0115) 953 1123

Provided and run by:
Abbeyfield Society (The)

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Date of assessment 3 July 2024 to 23 July 2024. Sandwood is a ‘care home’ providing personal care and support to older people and people living with dementia. At the time of the assessment, the service was supporting 24 people with their personal care needs. Sandwood was last rated Requires Improvement (published 4 June 2024). Both the previous and this assessment have been completed following the Care Quality Commission (CQC) new approach to assessment; Single Assessment Framework (SAF). We returned to complete remaining quality statements which had not been covered in our first assessment because we had seen improvements. We assessed a total of 20 quality statements from the safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led key questions and found areas of good practice. The scores for these areas have been combined with scores from the previous assessment. This means the overall rating has changed from Requires Improvement to Good.

During an assessment under our new approach

Sandwood is a ‘care home’ providing personal care and support to older people and people living with dementia. At the time of the inspection, the service was supporting 25 people with their personal care needs. Sandwood was last rated Requires Improvement (published 8 January 2020). The report was published following CQC’s old inspection approach using key lines of enquiry (KLOEs), prompts and ratings characteristics. This assessment has been completed following the Care Quality Commission (CQC) new approach to assessment; Single Assessment Framework (SAF). We carried out our on-site assessment on 20 February 2024. This was an unannounced assessment, which means the provider was not told an assessment was going to be starting beforehand. During this assessment we looked at 12 quality statements; Safeguarding; Involving people to manage risks; Safe and effective staffing; Medicines Optimisation; Assessing needs; Delivering evidence-based care and treatment; Responding to people’s immediate needs; person-centred care; Workforce wellbeing and enablement; Shared direction and culture; Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders , Governance, management and sustainability, Freedom to speak up: Learning Improvement and innovation and Partnership and communities. We assessed some but not all quality statements at this visit which means we use the ratings from the previous inspection to rate the key questions of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led. This assessment did not cover all parts of our Single Assessment Framework, therefore we have only updated scores and ratings for those areas which we have assessed. We will carry out future assessments to cover other parts of the Framework and will update our website with our findings.

21 October 2020

During an inspection looking at part of the service

About the service

The Firs Nursing Home can accommodate 31 older people and people living with dementia and nursing needs in one adapted building. Accommodation is provided on three floors; a passenger lift is available. At the time of our inspection 18 people were living at the service.

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

Improvements had been made to the systems and processes that monitored the quality and safety of the service. Audits and checks were robust and up to date. The provider had a detailed action plan to continually drive forward improvements and a more stable, positive and committed staff team.

A new experienced registered manager had been appointed, who had provided good support and leadership to the staff team. Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities and supported people effectively. People received person centred care and treatment and achieved positive outcomes. The registered manager had developed an inclusive and transparent service.

People who used the service were positive about the care and treatment they received. They felt involved in their care and spoke postivly about the registered manager and staff team.

Staff moral had improved, and staff were positive about their role and felt well supported. Staff spoke highly of the registered manager and their leadership style and support.

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 8 January 2020) and there were three breaches of regulation. 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 in the breach of regulation we followed up and the provider was no longer in breach of this regulation.

Why we inspected

We undertook this targeted inspection to check whether the Warning Notice we previously served in relation to Regulation 17 Good governance of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 had been met. The overall rating for the service has not changed following this targeted inspection and remains Requires Improvement.

CQC have introduced targeted inspections to follow up on Warning Notices or to check specific concerns. They do not look at an entire key question, only the part of the key question we are specifically concerned about. Targeted inspections do not change the rating from the previous inspection. This is because they do not assess all areas of a key question.

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.

2 December 2019

During a routine inspection

About the service

The Firs Nursing Home can accommodate 31 older people and people living with dementia and nursing needs in one adapted building. Accommodation is provided on three floors; a passenger lift is available. At the time of our inspection 26 people were living at the service.

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

People did not receive consistent safe care. People’s dependency needs had not been consistently reviewed, to ensure staffing levels were sufficient in meeting people’s individual care needs and safety. Risks associated with people’s care needs and health conditions had been assessed. However, documentation to confirm care needs had been provided at the frequency required showed gaps. Pressure relieving mattresses to assist in the prevention of pressure ulcers developing, were not set correctly. Best practice guidance in the administration and management of medicines were not followed. Equipment was not consistently clean.

Staff were aware of their responsibilities to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm. Safe staff recruitment checks were completed before staff commenced. Health and safety checks were completed on the environment. The provider had a process that analysed accidents and incidents, but this information was not available during the inspection.

People did not receive consistent effective care. Where people had been identified at risk of malnutrition and required additional snacks, this was not seen to be provided. People’s pre-admission assessment showed gaps in important information such as a person’s religion, social history, interests and hobbies. The environment required some refurbishment work, it was not clear of the plans in place to complete this. Best interest decisions completed for people who lacked mental capacity to consent to their care, did not consistently show who had been involved in the decision-making process.

Staff received an induction, ongoing training and opportunities to discuss their work. Staff worked with external health care professionals in supporting people’s health care needs. 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.

People did not receive care that consistently respected their dignity. Staff used good communication skills and understood people’s needs and involved them as fully as possible in their care. Advocacy information was available for people should they have required this support.

People did not receive care that was consistently responsive to their individual care needs. Staff were not always responsive to requests for assistance, resulting in a delay of care and support. Social activities and opportunities for people to pursue interests and hobbies were very limited. Complaints had not always been responded to in a timely manner.

People received good end of life care.

The leadership of the service had been poor, and this had resulted in staff not being sufficiently supported and guided. Staff were task focused and there was a lack of direction. Whilst audits and checks monitored quality and safety these had not been fully effective in driving forward improvements.

People received opportunities to feedback their experience of the service. The provider had met their registration regulatory requirements.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (published 4 December 2018). The service remains rated Requires Improvement. This is the provider's third consecutive rating of Requires Improvement.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Enforcement

During this inspection, we identified three breaches of the Health and Social Care (Regulated Activities) 2014. This was in relation to people's nutrition and hydration needs being met, care not being consistently respectful or dignified, and the governance of the service.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

Follow up

We will meet with the provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least Good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

24 October 2018

During a routine inspection

We inspected the service on 24 October 2018. The inspection was unannounced.

The Firs 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.

The Firs Nursing Home can accommodate 31 older people and people living with dementia and nursing needs in one adapted building. Accommodation is provided on three floors; a passenger lift is available. At the time of our inspection 21 people were using the service.

There was a registered manager at the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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 previous inspection in September 2017 we identified some improvements were required in three key areas we inspected; ‘Safe’, ‘Caring and 'Well-led'. This resulted in the service having an overall rating of 'Requires Improvement'. We identified four breaches in Regulation of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. This was in relation to how risks were assessed and managed, staffing levels and deployment of staff, how staff respected people’s dignity and the governance of the service. Following the last inspection, we asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when, to improve the key questions to at least good. The provider sent us an action plan and told us they would make the improvements by 31 January 2017.

At this inspection, we found the breaches in regulation had been met. However, further time was required for improvements and new systems and processes to be fully imbedded and sustained.

Improvements had been made to how risks associated with people’s needs were assessed and managed. Staff had received additional training and guidance in how to mitigate risks. Following the last inspection, staffing levels had increased but had recently decreased, without appropriate assessments being completed. Senior management agreed on the day of the inspection, to increase staffing levels with immediate effect and to complete an assessment of people’s dependency needs. Safe staff recruitment procedures were in place and followed.

Improvements had been made in how staff respected people’s dignity and people’s meal time experience was positive. However, there remained some inconsistencies in staff’s approach.

National best practice guidance in the management of medicines were not consistently followed. This included the administration and record keeping of medicines. Accidents and incidents were reviewed and action was taken to reduce further reoccurrence, but were not consistently sustained. Infection control practice was used and understood by staff, but two people were exposed to unnecessary risk of cross contamination due to seating that could not be cleaned effectively.

Staff were aware of their responsibilities to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm. The management team had worked with the local authority safeguarding team to investigate safeguarding incidents and concerns.

Staff received an induction and ongoing training and support. Staff were knowledgeable about people’s health conditions.

People received a choice of meals and drinks and were assisted to eat and drink where required. People’s health care needs were assessed and monitored, and staff worked with external healthcare professionals in meeting people’s needs.

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.

Independence was encouraged and supported. Information about independent advocacy services was available. It was not clear how people were involved in opportunities to discuss and review how their care and treatment was provided.

Staff had information to support them to understand people’s needs, preferences and diverse needs. People received opportunities to participate in social activities. The provider’s complaint policy and procedure had been made available to people who used the service, relatives and visitors. People’s end of life wishes had been discussed and planned with them.

The systems, audits and checks on quality and safety had improved and the provider had an ongoing action plan to make further improvements. People received opportunities to feedback their experience of the service.

26 September 2017

During a routine inspection

We inspected the service on 26 September 2017. The Firs Nursing Home is a purpose built care home. They are registered as a care home with nursing and provide accommodation for up to 31 older people. The service offers accommodation over three floors, with a lift to access the first and second floor. On the day of our inspection 30 people were using the service.

The service had a registered manager in place at the time of our inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.

Risks in relation to people developing a pressure ulcer or who had a wound were not always assessed or monitored appropriately. People’s needs were not always met in a timely way due to the way staff were deployed in the service.

People were supported by staff who knew how to recognise abuse and how to respond to concerns. Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed.

People were supported by staff who had the knowledge and skills to provide safe and appropriate care and support. People were supported to make decisions and staff knew how to act if people did not have the capacity to make decisions.

People were supported to maintain their nutrition and staff responded to people’s changing health and sought advice and guidance from health and social care professionals.

People were not always supported in a caring and compassionate way and their dignity was not always upheld. People who lived with a dementia related illness were supported by staff when they became distressed and staff respected people’s rights to privacy.

The systems in place to monitor the quality of the service were not always robust in identifying where improvements needed to be made. People were involved in giving their views on how the service was run. The management team were approachable and supportive.

7 October 2015

During a routine inspection

We inspected the service on 7 October 2015. The inspection was unannounced. The Firs Nursing Home is a purpose built care home. They are registered as a care home with nursing and provide accommodation for up to 31 older people. The service offers accommodation over three floors, with a lift to access the first and second floor. On the day of our inspection 31 people were using the service.

The service had a registered manager in place at the time of our inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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. The registered managers are also the registered providers of the service.

People felt safe in the service and staff knew how to protect people from the risk of harm. However recruitment processes were not robust and supervision of staff who needed further guidance in good practice was not consistent. Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed. There were enough staff deployed in the service to meet the needs of people and to ensure they received care and support when they needed it.

People were supported by staff who had the knowledge and skills to provide safe and appropriate care and support. People were supported to maintain their nutrition and hydration and staff ensured healthcare advice was sought when people’s health needs changed.

People were supported to make decisions about their care and support and where people lacked the capacity to make certain decisions, these were made in their best interests. People were supported to maintain their health needs. Referrals were made to health care professionals for additional support or guidance if people’s health changed.

People were treated with dignity and respect and had their choices acted on. We saw staff were kind and caring when supporting people.

People enjoyed the activities and social stimulation they were offered. People also knew who to speak with if they had any concerns they wished to raise and they felt these would be taken seriously.

People were involved in giving their views on how the service was run through the systems used to monitor the quality of the service. Audits had been completed that resulted in the manager implementing action plans to improve the service.

10 June 2013

During a routine inspection

The three people we spoke with told us they were supported by staff appropriately and they were happy with the care and support they received. One person told us, 'I receive excellent care. I have been in hotels with lower standards.' We also spoke with a relative of a person using the service and they told us their relative was, 'extremely happy and received good care.'

Medicines were prescribed and given to people appropriately. We spoke with three people using the service about their prescribed medicines. They told us that staff gave them their medicine and they were given at the times prescribed by their doctor. We saw medication was stored and administered in line with safe practice.

There was enough equipment to promote the safety and comfort of people who use the service. We saw people had specialist equipment such as chairs to promote good skin integrity. People told us they had equipment they needed to make them comfortable.

4 September 2012

During a themed inspection looking at Dignity and Nutrition

People told us what it was like to live at this home and described how they were treated by staff and their involvement in making choices about their care. They also told us about the quality and choice of food and drink available. This was because this inspection was part of a themed inspection programme to assess whether older people living in care homes are treated with dignity and respect and whether their nutritional needs are met.

The inspection team was led by a CQC inspector joined by an 'expert by experience' (people who have experience of using services and who can provide that perspective).

To help us understand people's experiences we used the Short Observational

Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us

understand the experiences of people who could not talk with us. We chose to use

SOFI in the main dining room on the ground floor, because this was where people most people ate their lunch. We observed the lunch time for a period of 35 minutes noting the experiences of four people.

People who use the service understood the care and treatment choices available to them. For example we heard staff trying to reassure someone who was not happy with the chair they were sitting in, trying to find out what the problem was and offering alternative chairs and re-positioning. Staff explained fully what they were going to do throughout the actual use of a hoist to transfer the person from an armchair to wheelchair in preparation for lunch.

People were supported to be able to eat and drink sufficient amounts to meet their needs.

During our SOFI observations staff were seen to encourage one person who we knew to be nutritionally 'at risk' to eat more. They gave a smaller portion to this person and sat with them supporting them throughout the meal. The result was that the person finished all of their meal and with encouragement drank two glasses of juice.

People told us that if they had any concerns they would speak with the staff. One person said, 'I'd mention it on the quiet to one of the staff' and another said, 'I'd ask (friend) to write to Abbeyfield.'

During our visit there appeared to be a sufficient number of staff available to meet the needs of the people using the service.

People's personal records including medical records were accurate and fit for purpose. We found records were kept securely and could be located promptly when needed.

23 January 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We spoke with three people using the service and all three said they were happy living in the home. One person told us, 'the staff are kind and they work very hard. If there was anything I wasn't happy about I would just have to tell them and they would sort it out.'

We observed staff during lunch and we saw that where special equipment to enable people to eat independently was needed, this was in place. There were enough staff available to give people using the service the level of support needed throughout the meal.

4 October 2011

During an inspection in response to concerns

We spoke with five people using the service and asked them if they were supported to make choices about their daily life. One person told us, 'I can choose what I do during the day and where I spend my time. If I want to spend time in my bedroom I can and if I want to eat in the lounge instead of the dining room I can.' Another person using the service said, 'we have a good choice of what to eat and if I don't like what is on offer I can choose something else.'

We observed one person using the service who was eating their lunch in a small separate lounge. We saw that a member of staff gave the meal and then left the person to eat. We saw that the person dropped most of the food before it reached their mouth and they picked some small pieces of potato up with their fingers and ate that. The person only ate a very small amount of the meal and a member of staff came to take the plate away without trying to encourage this person to eat more. We spoke to the person using the service and asked if they would have liked some help to eat their meal. They said, 'I keep dropping the food. I would have eaten more if I had some help, I prefer to eat in this room but if I had eaten in the dining room I would have had help from staff.' We asked if the person wanted anything else to eat with support from staff but they declined.

We spoke with five people using the service and all five told us that they felt safe. One person said, 'I feel the place is secure and I feel safe here' and another said, 'I feel safe and if I was worried about anything I would tell the manager.'

We spoke with five people using the service and some of their relatives. One person using the service told us, 'I get on well with the staff, they are very kind.' Another said, 'the staff are very good.' One relative told us, 'staff are extremely willing, pleasant and helpful.' Another relative told us, 'staff make visitors very welcome, I feel like a part of the family.'

We observed staff interacting with people using the service during our visit. We saw that staff were kind, helpful and polite and treated people with respect.