The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Alexandra

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Doncaster Road, Thrybergh, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S65 4AD (01709) 850844

Provided and run by:
Larchwood Care Homes (North) Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

All Inspections

9 April 2015

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 3 and 4November 2014 in which breaches of the legal requirements were found.

This report relates to these three breaches. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for ‘Alexandra’ on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Alexandra is registered to provide nursing and residential care for a maximum of 47 people. The service is situated in the Thrybergh area of Rotherham.

At the time of our inspection the service had a registered manager in post. 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.

We carried out this focused inspection on 9 April 2015 to ensure improvements planned by the provider had been implemented to address this breach of Regulation. We found that action had been taken to improve safety in relation to cleanliness and infection control.

We completed a tour of the premises, looking at bathrooms, toilets, bedrooms and communal living areas. We found the home to be clean and tidy, although some areas of the home were in need of redecoration.

We saw some toilet floors had a gap around the bases of the toilet, which made cleaning the floor very difficult. We raised this with the registered manager who told us that new flooring was on order for one shower room and three toilets.

Cleaning schedules were available and up to date, showing cleaning had been completed.

We will review our rating for this service at our next comprehensive inspection to ensure the improvements made and planned continue to be implemented and have been embedded into practice.

3 and 4 November 2014

During a routine inspection

The inspection took place on 3 and 4 November 2014 and was unannounced. The last inspection took place in July 2013 and the service was compliant in the areas we checked.

Alexandra provides accommodation for up to 47 people who require nursing and residential care. The service is situated in the Thrybergh area of Rotherham. At the time of our inspection 35 people were using the service. Alexandra also provides care for people living with dementia.

This service is required to have a registered manager in place. 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 time of our visit there was a registered manager in place.

At our inspection on 3 and 4 November 2014, we found a breach of Regulation 12 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010. You can see what action we told the registered provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.

People who used the service were not always cared for in a clean and hygienic environment. We completed a tour of the home and saw some areas and equipment in need of cleaning which could potentially create a health risk to people who used the service.

We spoke with staff who had a good knowledge of how to protect people from harm and knew the procedure to follow if they needed to.

We saw that medicines were ordered, and disposed of safely. Medicines were administered to people by staff trained to do so.

Staff we spoke with told us they received training which was effective and helped them to carry out their role. The care workers we spoke with told us they received supervision sessions (one to one sessions with their manager). Staff told us they felt supported by the registered manager.

Positive caring relationships were developed with people who used the service. Staff were respectful and treated people in a caring way.

Suitable arrangements were in place to support people to maintain a healthy intake of food and drink. People we spoke with told us the food was nice.

People received care which met their current needs. Care plans were in place and reflected the person’s needs. Healthcare services were contacted when people required their support.

Audits were completed to ensure a good quality service was provided. These were carried out by the registered manager and those designated by her. Each audit had an action plan where issues for improvements had been noted.

People’s views and opinions were taken in to consideration and people felt involved in suggestions and ideas about the home.

2 July 2013

During a routine inspection

Before people received care and treatment they were asked for their consent and the provider acted in accordance with their wishes. The appropriate procedure was followed where people were not able to give consent. We spoke with four people who used the service and two relatives. They all felt their choice was respected. We observed staff interacting with people and saw they included people in their conversations even if they were not able to respond fully. We saw that people were given choices and that their choice was respected.

People who used the service had a care plan which was relevant to their individual needs. We spoke with four people who used the service who spoke positively about the care they received. One person said, 'The staff are lovely.' Another person said, 'The staff are all very good, very pleasant and caring.' We spoke with two relatives of people who used the service and they were satisfied with the care their relative received. One relative said, 'Staff are great, very kind and nothing is ever too much trouble.'

We found that the home worked well with other professionals. People who used the service were supported to access other professionals when required. One person said, "If I am ill the staff call the doctor."

There was enough equipment to support people appropriately. Some people used the hoist, others used walking aids. The manager told us that all equipment was assessed for the individual who used it.

We found that the provider had an effective recruitment procedure in place. Appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began work.

The provider had an effective system in place to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received.

20 September 2012

During a routine inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service and they told us that staff were very helpful and supportive. One person said 'You can't beat it here, I'm involved in everything.' Another person said 'The carers are lovely, you can tell them exactly how you feel.' We spoke with two relatives who were happy with the service and had no concerns. People who used the service told us that they enjoyed living in the home and relatives enjoyed visiting.

We found that the service provided the appropriate care to people who used the service. Staff were respectful and supportive to people. Staff worked as a team and supported each other.

13 February 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We spoke with four people who used the service. They all said they were satisfied with their care and were very happy in the home. Changes to the lounge and dining room layouts had taken place and people told us they liked the new arrangements.

10 November 2011

During a routine inspection

People who we spoke with said they were encouraged to be as independent as possible. They told us staff respected their wishes and choices regarding their care.

People said they liked the service, the staff and said they were well looked after. People told us 'The food is lovely and we always have a choice of meals'.