Swallownest Nursing Home

Updated 26 February 2021

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.

As part of CQC's response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 11 February 2021 and was announced.

Updated 26 February 2021

About the service

Swallownest nursing Home is care home providing care and support for older people, including nursing needs and people living with dementia. The service can support up to 64 people.

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

On the day of our inspection there were predominantly adequate numbers of staff available to meet people’s needs. However, on the upstairs unit due to the layout and ineffective deployment of staff, we found people’s needs were not always met in a timely way. The registered manager had already identified this and since our inspection we have received confirmation that staffing levels have been increased to ensure people’s needs are met. Safe recruitment systems were in place and followed. Medication management was safe, although we found some of the documentation could be improved. Risks associated with people’s care and support had been identified, however, some lacked detail to ensure risks were managed safely, these were being updated at the time of our inspection and were all completed by the end of the day.

People were safe, and staff understood safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures and when they would be required to instigate. Accidents and incidents were monitored, and lessons were learnt.

Staff were very knowledgeable about people's needs, care was person-centred and individualised. Staff said training was good and from talking with staff and our observations it was effective. Staff were supervised and supported.

People were supported to have maximum 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.

People received a balanced diet. People told us they enjoyed the food provided. People had access to health care professionals. The environment was well maintained and homely. There was also access to outside space.

When staff engaged with people they were kind and caring and compassionate. People told us the staff were lovely and genuinely cared. People were involved in their care planning to ensure their decisions and choices were reflected.

We looked at care records and found although they were not always easy to follow had identified people’s needs and reflect people’s choices. People received individualised, personalised care. People were listened to and complaints were appropriately dealt with and resolved. End of life care was included in care plans to ensure people’s decisions were respected.

The service had an activities coordinator and a varied calendar of social stimulation was provided, including entertainment, faith meetings, outings and in-house activities.

A new manager had been appointed and commenced employment at the service in January 2019. They were registered with CQC. Quality monitoring was carried out using various audits tools. These were effective. Although we had identified some minor issues during inspection these had already been picked up by the registered manager and were being actioned. The service promoted an open, inclusive and positive culture. People and relatives were involved in the service, quality questionnaires were sent out and regular meetings were held.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 22 February 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We have received written confirmation that staffing has been increased and the works required to install a kitchenette on the upstairs unit have been approved.

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