Background to this inspection
Updated
21 March 2019
The inspection:
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team:
The inspection was carried out by an adult social care inspector.
Service and service type:
Digby Manor is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission [CQC] regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
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.
Notice of inspection:
This was an unannounced inspection and we gave the registered manager no notice of the inspection visit.
What we did:
Before the inspection the provider sent us a Provider Information Return. Providers are required to send us information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We reviewed information we held about the service, for example, statutory notifications. A notification is information about events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. We contacted commissioners to seek their feedback.
During the site visit we spoke with six people, two relatives, two visitors, the provider, the registered manager, the deputy manager, the administrator, the cook, five support workers including two senior support workers and two visiting professionals. We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records, three medicine’s records. We also looked at five staff files to check staff recruitment and training records of staff. We reviewed records relating to the management of the service and a variety of policies and procedures developed and implemented by the provider.
Updated
21 March 2019
About the service:
Digby Manor is a care home that provides personal and nursing care to a maximum of 26 older people, including people who live with dementia. At the time of the inspection 26 people were using the service.
People’s experience of using this service:
People said they felt safe and they could speak to staff as they were approachable. People and staff told us they thought there were enough staff on duty to provide safe care and individual care to people.
Staff knew about safeguarding procedures. Staff were subject to robust recruitment checks. Arrangements for managing people's medicines were safe.
People were very positive about the changes taking place in the home. There was a good standard of hygiene. The environment promoted the orientation and independence of people who lived with dementia.
People's privacy and dignity were not always respected with the use of shared bedrooms. We have made a recommendation to review the use of shared rooms in order to promote people's rights to privacy and dignity.
People were provided with very good standards of care by staff who were well-trained and supported in their roles. One visitor commented, “The manager and staff are so loving and caring, I want to come here if I ever need care.”
Staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and best interest decision making, when people were unable to make decisions themselves. 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 had access to health care professionals to make sure they received appropriate care and treatment. Staff followed advice given by professionals to make sure people received the care they needed. People received a varied and balanced diet to meet their nutritional needs.
Risk assessments were in place and they accurately identified current risks to the person as well as ways for staff to minimise or appropriately manage those risks.
There was a welcoming, bustling atmosphere in the home and people were well-engaged. A range of activities and entertainment were available to keep people interested and stimulated.
People and relatives were overwhelmingly positive about the care provided. They confirmed that staff were attentive, kind and caring.
Communication was effective and staff and people were listened to. Staff said they felt well-supported and were aware of their responsibility to share any concerns about the care provided.
There were opportunities for people, relatives and staff to give their views about the service. One relative commented, “It is great we do not have to worry at all about [Name]’s care and well-being now they are safely ensconced in Digby Manor.”
People said they knew how to complain. The provider undertook a range of audits to check on the quality of care provided. The home had won awards acknowledging the benefits to people of the care provided.
Why we inspected:
This was the first inspection of the service since it was registered in March 2017. This was a planned comprehensive inspection.
Follow up:
We did not identify any concerns at this inspection. We will therefore re-inspect this service within the published timeframe for services rated good. We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk