Archived: Hardwick House

Updated 24 December 2015

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.’

This inspection which took place on 2 and 3 November 2015 and was unannounced.

This was the first inspection under a new registered provider and was undertaken by one inspector.

Before the inspection we looked at information provided by the local authority. We reviewed records held by the CQC including notifications. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required by law to tell us about. We also looked at any other information that has been shared with us.

People living at Hardwick House were able to tell us about their experiences of living at the home. We carried out observations in communal areas, looked at care documentation for three people, and further records to look at specific information including daily records, risk assessments and associated daily records and charts. Medicine Administration Records (MAR) charts and medicine records were checked. We read diary entries and other information completed by staff, policies and procedures, accidents, incidents, quality assurance records, staff meeting minutes, maintenance and emergency plans. Recruitment files were reviewed for two staff and records of staff training, supervision and appraisals.

We spoke with five people using the service and five staff. This included the registered manager, care staff, cook and other staff members involved in the day to day running of the service.

We spoke to relatives and visitors during and after the inspection. We also received feedback from visiting professionals including representatives from the Royal National Institute for the Blind who visit the service on a regular basis.

Updated 24 December 2015

Hardwick House is registered to provide residential care for up to 19 older people. There were 13 people living at the home at the time of the inspection. People required a low level of support in relation to personal care needs, visual and hearing impairments. People with short term memory loss were supported with prompting and assistance when required. People were independently mobile and everyone at Hardwick House had capacity to make decisions about their care and how they spent their time.

The home had a passenger lift and wide staircases with handrails to assist people access all areas of the building.

This was an unannounced inspection which took place on 2 and 3 November 2015.

Hardwick House had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 manager was also the registered provider and was in day to day charge of the home. People and staff spoke highly of the manager and told us that they felt supported by them and knew that there was always someone available to support them when needed. Staff told us that the manager had a good overview of the home and knew everyone well.

We received only positive feedback from people, staff and relatives.

We found areas of medicine administration and documentation needed to be improved to ensure people received their medicines in a safe and consistent manner.

Care documentation needed to be improved to ensure information for staff was clear and relevant. Risk assessments had been completed; these had been signed by people when appropriate. Information had been sought regarding people’s lives, background and significant events. Care plans were being updated by gaining further feedback from people regarding their goals and aspirations.

There were systems in place to assess the quality of the service. This included maintenance checks and regular servicing of equipment. Fire evacuation plans and emergency evacuation equipment and procedures were in place.

Staffing levels were reviewed regularly. Staff received training which they felt was effective and supported them in providing safe care for people. Recruitment checks were completed before staff began work and there was a newly implemented programme of supervision and appraisals for staff.

Staff demonstrated a clear understanding on how to recognise and report abuse. Staff treated people with respect and dignity and involved people in decisions about how they spent their time.

People were encouraged to remain as independent as possible and supported to participate in daily activities.

People, relatives or significant people were kept informed when there had been a change to people’s health. Relatives told us that the manager and staff were very supportive. Feedback was gained from people in the form of questionnaires and meetings had taken place.

People’s nutritional needs were monitored and reviewed. People had a choice of meals provided and staff knew people’s likes and dislikes. Menus were reviewed and changes made when requested.

Referrals were made appropriately to outside agencies when required. For example GP appointment, and visits from community nurses and notifications had been completed to inform CQC and other outside organisations when events occurred.