- Care home
Skelton Court
Report from 21 March 2025 assessment
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 01 April to 03 April 2025. This assessment was carried out in response to information of concern received about the service relating to care and treatment and staffing. We did not find evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. This is the first inspection for this newly registered service. Skelton Court is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 65 older people, some of whom were living with dementia. At the time of the inspection there were 45 people living at the care home.
This assessment was unannounced and was carried out by 3 inspectors 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.
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.
Prior to the assessment we reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from health and social care professionals who work with the service. 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 assessment we spoke with 13 people who used the service and 5 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with staff including the regional manager, registered manager, deputy managers, senior care workers, care workers, housekeeping and catering staff. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We reviewed a range of records. This included people’s care and medicine records. We looked at staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.
People were protected from the risk of harm and abuse. Staff had received safeguarding training and were aware of their responsibility to report any concerns. Staff told us they felt able to raise any concerns they had and were confident these would be acted upon. Risks to people's personal safety had been assessed and plans were in place to minimise these risks.
Systems were in place for the safe storage, administration and disposal of medicines. Records showed people received their medicines as prescribed and in their preferred manner. The service worked with other health and social care professionals to ensure people access to healthcare services to maintain good health.
Appropriate systems were in place to protect people from the spread of infection. During the assessment we observed the home to be clean, tidy and odour free.
People, their relatives and staff spoke positively about how the service was managed. There was a positive culture within the service. Staff felt supported by the management team and were able to raise any issues or concerns they may have. Staff had received the necessary training to support them in their role. Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the quality of service being delivered. Plans were in place to ensure improvements to the service were identified and appropriate actions taken. Information regarding safeguarding, accidents and incidents were reviewed to ensure were required lessons were learned. People and their relatives were encouraged to provide feedback on the service and complaints were dealt with in line with the provider's policy.
People's experience of this service
People and their relatives spoke positively about the care and support provided by the service. Comments included, “It’s very comfortable here and the staff are very good. I feel safe here with the staff who are very good at their job. I’ve slept well since I came here”, “I’m a bit fussy and they know it but yes, the staff are kind and patient to you” and “Staff have a caring attitude. They do anything you ask, and they are very helpful. They are absolutely kind and patient.”
People and their relatives had mixed feelings about the activities with some feeling the activities and social support could be better. Comments included, “There are not so many trips out recently”, “The home made out they had a lady who did activities but that’s not so. They have trips out or so they say but I’ve not been on any” and “I’m 90% happy with the care home, but disappointed with the social side of it.” Other comments included, “If you want company, you’ve got it. There are some activities like dominoes and music. I keep myself busy” and “We have been out on many nice trips to a museum and a garden centre.”
People’s care and support was assessed prior to them commencing with the service. This information was used to support the development of a person centre care plan to ensure people’s needs were met. People had access to healthcare to ensure their health and wellbeing needs were met.
Staff treated people with kindness and compassion. People looked comfortable in the presence of staff, chatting, joking and seeking support when required. Staff respected people’s privacy by knocking on doors and seeking consent before entering people’s rooms.