Thorn Park Care Home

Updated 25 May 2018

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 was a comprehensive inspection completed by one inspector and expert by experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

The inspection took place on the 19, 20 and 23 April 2018 and was unannounced.

In our planning for this inspection, we reviewed our records and those CQC is linked to. We also used the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. This meant we knew the service’s food hygiene rating, training details and any notifications they had sent us. Notifications are specific issues registered persons have to tell us.

We spoke with 15 people and three family members. We read the care records of four people and looked at them in detail to ensure they were receiving their care as planned and desired. We also observed how staff interacted with people at lunch and in the lounge areas.

We spoke with eight staff and read three staff personnel files. We reviewed how staff were being trained, supervised and assessed as competent.

We asked for questionnaires to be given to family and friends and received five of these back. We received written feedback from one professional and verbal feedback from another one.

We reviewed the records held by the registered manger and provider that showed how they were maintaining the quality of the service. This included a number of audits and feedback into the service. We also looked at equipment, fire safety and maintenance records.

Updated 25 May 2018

Thorn Park Care Home (‘Thorn Park’) is a residential care home for 36 older people who may be living with dementia and have a range of needs. We inspected on the 19, 20 and 23 April 2018. On the days we inspected, 34 people were living at the service.

At our last inspection we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Why the service is rated Good.

People felt safe at the home and with the staff who supported them. There were systems and processes in place to minimise risks to people. These included a robust recruitment process and making sure staff knew how to recognise and report abuse. There were adequate numbers of staff available to meet people’s needs in a timely manner. People received their medicines as prescribed in a caring way.

People received effective care from staff who had the skills and knowledge to meet their needs. Staff monitored people’s health and well-being and made sure they had access to other healthcare professionals according to their individual needs. People’s food and drinks were monitored to ensure people were kept healthy. Falls were reduced by the service’s focus on ensuring everyone’s sodium levels were monitored.

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 were supported by staff who were kind and caring. Where people found it difficult to express themselves, staff showed patience and understanding. Alternative methods of communication, family and advocates were utilised to help staff understand people’s needs when verbal communication was not easy for them.

The service was responsive to people’s needs and they were able to make choices about their day to day routines. People had access to a range of organised and informal activities which provided them with mental and social stimulation.

People could be confident that at the end of their lives they would be cared for with kindness and compassion and their comfort would be maintained. Staff worked well with other organisations to make sure high standards of care was provided and people received the support and treatment they wished for at the end of their lives.

People said they would feel comfortable making a complaint and were confident action would be taken to address their concerns. The registered manager and provider treated complaints as an opportunity to learn and improve.

The home was well led by an experienced registered manager and management team. The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service, seek people’s views and make on-going improvements.

Further information is in the detailed findings below