St Cecilia Care Home

St Cecilia Care Home is a residential care home providing care and accommodation for up to 17 people in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 11 people living in the home

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

The service did not have robust systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. Systems that were in place were not effective and had not identified the improvements that were required. The provider visited the home regularly, but no formal audits had been completed to identify any shortfalls and to monitor any actions identified.

The service did not have a way of assessing the staff numbers it needed to keep people safe. We have made a recommendation about staffing.

Staff followed infection prevention and control measures. Medicines were managed safely. Staff knew how to recognise, and report abuse.

The provider had appropriate recruitment procedures in place to ensure staff employed by the service were safe to work with vulnerable adults.

Relatives told us communication was good with the service and they were satisfied with the support their relatives received.

People and relatives told us people felt safe with the care and support they or their relative received. People and staff were positive about the registered manager.

The service worked in partnership with health and social care professionals.

People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

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

Rating at the last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 21 May 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held. This was a focused unannounced inspection covering the key questions of Safe and Well Led. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led.

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.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from Good to Requires Improvement based on the findings of this inspection. We found evidence the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the Safe and Well Led sections of this report. The provider took action during the inspection to mitigate the risks.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to assessing, monitoring and managing risks to people, governance and quality assurance systems at this inspection. We have made a recommendation about staffing levels.

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

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for St Cecilia Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

St Cecilia Care Home is a “care home”. People living in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

There is a registered manager for 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.

The inspection took place on 22 and 27 February 2018 and was unannounced for the first day and announced for the second day.

People told us they felt safe living in the home and described staff as "Kind" and "They are all lovely." A relative told us they always leave the home after visiting their relative "Knowing they are cared for and safe."

Staff were confident about raising any concerns about the safety and welfare of people and action being taken to address their concerns ensuring people were safe.

Staffing of the home helped to ensure there was a responsive and flexible approach to supporting people. One person told us, "I know staff are around when I need them." Another person said, "Staff respect my routines and I am able to do as I wish when I wish."

There was an environment where people were cared for in a way, which respected their privacy and dignity. People had warm, compassionate and comforting relationships with staff where people's individual and differing needs were met and respected.

People displayed a sense of well-being and accepting of their environment and staff who supported them.

Training provided an opportunity for staff to have a real understanding of people living with dementia so they could provide the skilled care people needed.

There was a culture where people were seen as "Part of our family" and care provided "As if they were our parents and knowing they put their trust in us." (Staff comments)

There was a welcoming and inviting environment where family and visitors were valued and recognised as an important part of people's lives.

The environment was suited and adapted to meet the specific needs of people living with dementia promoting independence and providing a sense of calmness.

There was an open and approachable management where people were enabled to voice their views. However, there was not specific ways for people living with dementia, who may have communication difficulties, to express their views.

The home was promoted as part of the community with people having the opportunity to use the local facilities and engage in meaningful activities.

Staff spoke of being valued and supported, being part of a team and demonstrated a real commitment to their work. One staff member said, "I look forward to coming into work as the team we have here is like a family home for all staff residents and visitors."